November 1, 2026
November 1, 2026
NAFDAC Green Book: How to Search It Before You Buy Medicine
A fake antimalarial seized in Kano in 2026 carried a NAFDAC number that didn't exist. The NAFDAC Green Book could have flagged it in seconds. Here's how to search it before you buy or take any medicine.
A fake antimalarial seized in Kano in 2026 carried a NAFDAC number that didn't exist. The NAFDAC Green Book could have flagged it in seconds. Here's how to search it before you buy or take any medicine.
The NAFDAC Green Book is Nigeria's free official register of approved medicines. This guide shows you how to search it, read the results and spot a fake.
The most dangerous number on a pack of medicine is the one nobody checks.
In August 2026, NAFDAC intercepted a falsified antimalarial at a wholesale centre in Kano. The pack looked like any other Artemether/Lumefantrine. But the NAFDAC registration number printed on it did not exist in the agency's database, and the label didn't even name a Marketing Authorisation Holder.
You can't test a tablet in your kitchen. But you can check whether a medicine is registered, and whether its details match your pack, in about two minutes, for free, using the NAFDAC Green Book. This guide shows you exactly how to search it, how to read what you find, and what to do when something doesn't add up.
What Is the NAFDAC Green Book?
The NAFDAC Green Book is the official online database of medicines and health products registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. When NAFDAC unveiled it in December 2023, it held 6,432 registered pharmaceutical products, with public access from January 2024.
You can use it on the web at greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng or through NAFDAC's Greenbook mobile app. Besides drugs, it lists other regulated health products such as vaccines and biologics, medical devices, herbal and nutraceutical products and veterinary medicines.
What it does not cover well is everyday food, drinks, cosmetics and toiletries. For those, use NAFDAC's registered products database; our guide on how to verify a NAFDAC number walks you through it.
Why Searching the Green Book Matters Now
Fake drugs in Nigeria are no longer crude copies. In February 2026, NAFDAC said it had seized over 10 million doses of fake malaria drugs and cosmetics worth ₦3 billion at the Trade Fair Market in Lagos. Its enforcement director said the drugs were so well cloned that even the authorised manufacturers found it hard to tell original from fake.
When packaging can be copied that well, your eyes are not enough. Registration details are harder to fake consistently, because the real record sits in NAFDAC's database, not on the pack. For the bigger picture of how fakes get into the market, see our report on fake products in Nigeria and what they cost you.
How to Search the NAFDAC Green Book: Step by Step
Step 1: Open the official Green Book. Go to greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng in your browser or open NAFDAC's Greenbook app. Type the address yourself rather than tapping a link sent on WhatsApp, so you don't land on a lookalike site.
Step 2: Pick what to search with. You can search with:
the brand name on the pack (for example, the name in large print),
the active ingredient, also called the generic name (for example, "artemether" or "paracetamol"),
the NAFDAC registration number (NRN), usually printed as "NAFDAC Reg. No." on the pack, in a format like A4-1234 or 04-1234.
Step 3: Type it into the search box. The results table filters as you type. Start with a few letters or digits rather than the full name; small spelling differences can hide a genuine product.
Step 4: Open the product details. Click or tap the matching product to see its full record.
Step 5: Match every detail against your pack. Don't stop at "it's there". Compare the product name, NAFDAC number, active ingredients, strength, dosage form (tablet, syrup, injection), pack size, the company that registered it and the manufacturer. Then check that the registration status shows as active.
Step 6: Read the product information if it's attached. Many records link to a Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), a PDF with official product information. It can help you or your pharmacist confirm details such as the dosage form and what the medicine is for.
Search tips that save time:
If the brand name finds nothing, search the active ingredient instead.
Try the NAFDAC number with and without the hyphen or spaces.
Search one ingredient at a time for combination drugs, such as "lumefantrine".
If you still find nothing, don't assume either way. Ask a pharmacist before you buy.
How to Read Your NAFDAC Green Book Result
What the Green Book shows | What it should match | Warning sign |
Product name | The brand name on your pack | A different or similar-sounding name |
NAFDAC Reg. No. | The number printed on your pack | Number belongs to another product, or isn't found |
Active ingredient and strength | The ingredients and mg on your pack | Different ingredient or strength |
Dosage form and pack size | Tablet, syrup or injection; number per pack | A syrup on record, tablets in your hand |
Applicant / manufacturer | The company names on the label | Different company, or no company named on the pack |
Status | Active | Inactive, or registration past its expiry date |
A useful habit: screenshot the matching record. If a seller later swaps the product or questions you, you have proof of what the genuine registration says.
Can a Fake Drug Pass a NAFDAC Green Book Check?
Yes. A Green Book match proves that a product with those details is registered, not that the pack in your hand is genuine. Counterfeiters often copy a real product's name and NAFDAC number exactly. That is why the Green Book is your first check, not your only one: buy from licensed pharmacies, use the scratch code where available and inspect the pack.
Our guide on how to check if a drug is original in Nigeria covers those extra layers, from scratch codes to spotting mismatched batch numbers.
Red Flags When You Search the Green Book
The NAFDAC number on the pack returns no result at all.
The number exists, but belongs to a different product.
The strength, dosage form or pack size on record differs from your pack.
The company on the label differs from the applicant or manufacturer on record.
The label names no company responsible for the product.
The registration shows as inactive or past its expiry date.
The seller says the drug is "too new to be on the Green Book" or "imported directly".
Someone sends you a link to a "Green Book" that isn't greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng.
Consider Emeka in Enugu (an illustrative example). He finds a WhatsApp vendor selling his mother's blood pressure tablets for ₦4,000 less than the pharmacy. He asks for a photo of the pack and searches the NAFDAC number on the Green Book. It belongs to a cough syrup from a different company. Two minutes of searching saved him money, and possibly saved his mother from weeks on a medicine that does nothing.
Before-You-Buy Checklist
[ ] Searched the brand name, ingredient or NAFDAC number on the official Green Book
[ ] Name, number, ingredients and strength all match the pack
[ ] Dosage form and pack size match
[ ] Company names on the label match the record
[ ] Registration status shows as active
[ ] Bought from a licensed pharmacy or hospital
[ ] Scratch code checked, where the pack has one
[ ] Batch number and expiry date match across carton, blister and leaflet
What If Your Drug Isn't on the Green Book?
Not finding a product doesn't automatically mean it's fake. Spelling differences, very recent approvals or gaps in the data can all cause a miss. At the launch, NAFDAC officials acknowledged that some records may not yet be complete and asked companies to submit updates.
But "maybe" is not good enough for medicine. If you can't find a match, don't buy it or take it until a pharmacist, your doctor or NAFDAC confirms it. Ask the pharmacist to show you the registration, or call NAFDAC.
Where Profiled Fits
The Green Book protects one buyer checking one pack. Pharmacies, clinics, online stores and bulk buyers face a bigger risk: one bad supplier can put fake stock in front of hundreds of patients and customers.
Profiled Nigeria's product authenticity checks help confirm that products are genuine, while our verification services help you confirm that a distributor or supplier is a real, traceable business before you pay. They work alongside the Green Book and your pharmacist's judgement, not instead of them.
What to Do If Your Search Raises a Red Flag
Don't buy it, and don't take it. If you've already started, speak to a pharmacist or doctor before stopping essential treatment, and get a genuine replacement.
Seek medical care immediately if you or a family member reacts badly or isn't getting better.
Keep the evidence. Save the pack, remaining medicine, receipt, seller details and your Green Book screenshot.
Report it to NAFDAC. Visit the nearest NAFDAC office or call NAFDAC's toll-free line, 0800 162 3322, which the agency listed in its 2026 alerts.
Report online sellers to the platform where you found them, so they can't reach the next buyer.
Warn others who may have bought from the same seller.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NAFDAC Green Book free? Yes. The NAFDAC Green Book is free to use on the web at greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng and through NAFDAC's Greenbook mobile app. You don't need to pay anyone to search it. Be wary of agents, vendors or websites that charge you to "verify" a drug through the Green Book, or send you links to lookalike sites.
What can I search on the NAFDAC Green Book? You can search by a medicine's brand name, its active ingredient (generic name) or its NAFDAC registration number. Each product record shows details such as the strength, dosage form, pack size, registration status and the companies behind the product. Match all of these against your pack, not just the name or number.
Why can't I find my drug on the NAFDAC Green Book? You may have a spelling difference, or the brand may be listed under a slightly different name, so try the active ingredient or the NAFDAC number instead. Some records may also be incomplete. If you still can't find it, don't buy or take it until a pharmacist or NAFDAC confirms the product is registered.
Does the NAFDAC Green Book cover food and cosmetics? The Green Book focuses on medicines and health products, including drugs, vaccines, medical devices, herbal products and veterinary medicines. For packaged food, drinks, water, cosmetics and toiletries, check the NAFDAC number through NAFDAC's registered products database instead, and confirm the product details match the pack.
Does a Green Book match mean a drug is original? No. A match confirms that a product with those details is registered with NAFDAC, but counterfeiters can copy a genuine name and number. Combine your Green Book search with buying from a licensed pharmacy, checking any scratch code and inspecting the pack for mismatched batch numbers, poor printing or broken seals.
Conclusion
The NAFDAC Green Book turns the number on your medicine pack into something you can actually check. Search the brand, ingredient or NAFDAC number, match every detail against your pack, and treat any mismatch or missing record as a reason to stop and ask a pharmacist.
For pharmacies, clinics and businesses buying in bulk, Profiled Nigeria adds another layer of protection with business and vendor verification that confirms who you're buying from before stock reaches patients. Learn more about Profiled Nigeria and our mission.
Remember: two minutes on the Green Book is cheaper than two weeks on a fake drug.
Real or fake? Verify before you swallow. Create your free Profiled account today.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified doctor or pharmacist about your medicines.
The NAFDAC Green Book is Nigeria's free official register of approved medicines. This guide shows you how to search it, read the results and spot a fake.
The most dangerous number on a pack of medicine is the one nobody checks.
In August 2026, NAFDAC intercepted a falsified antimalarial at a wholesale centre in Kano. The pack looked like any other Artemether/Lumefantrine. But the NAFDAC registration number printed on it did not exist in the agency's database, and the label didn't even name a Marketing Authorisation Holder.
You can't test a tablet in your kitchen. But you can check whether a medicine is registered, and whether its details match your pack, in about two minutes, for free, using the NAFDAC Green Book. This guide shows you exactly how to search it, how to read what you find, and what to do when something doesn't add up.
What Is the NAFDAC Green Book?
The NAFDAC Green Book is the official online database of medicines and health products registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. When NAFDAC unveiled it in December 2023, it held 6,432 registered pharmaceutical products, with public access from January 2024.
You can use it on the web at greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng or through NAFDAC's Greenbook mobile app. Besides drugs, it lists other regulated health products such as vaccines and biologics, medical devices, herbal and nutraceutical products and veterinary medicines.
What it does not cover well is everyday food, drinks, cosmetics and toiletries. For those, use NAFDAC's registered products database; our guide on how to verify a NAFDAC number walks you through it.
Why Searching the Green Book Matters Now
Fake drugs in Nigeria are no longer crude copies. In February 2026, NAFDAC said it had seized over 10 million doses of fake malaria drugs and cosmetics worth ₦3 billion at the Trade Fair Market in Lagos. Its enforcement director said the drugs were so well cloned that even the authorised manufacturers found it hard to tell original from fake.
When packaging can be copied that well, your eyes are not enough. Registration details are harder to fake consistently, because the real record sits in NAFDAC's database, not on the pack. For the bigger picture of how fakes get into the market, see our report on fake products in Nigeria and what they cost you.
How to Search the NAFDAC Green Book: Step by Step
Step 1: Open the official Green Book. Go to greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng in your browser or open NAFDAC's Greenbook app. Type the address yourself rather than tapping a link sent on WhatsApp, so you don't land on a lookalike site.
Step 2: Pick what to search with. You can search with:
the brand name on the pack (for example, the name in large print),
the active ingredient, also called the generic name (for example, "artemether" or "paracetamol"),
the NAFDAC registration number (NRN), usually printed as "NAFDAC Reg. No." on the pack, in a format like A4-1234 or 04-1234.
Step 3: Type it into the search box. The results table filters as you type. Start with a few letters or digits rather than the full name; small spelling differences can hide a genuine product.
Step 4: Open the product details. Click or tap the matching product to see its full record.
Step 5: Match every detail against your pack. Don't stop at "it's there". Compare the product name, NAFDAC number, active ingredients, strength, dosage form (tablet, syrup, injection), pack size, the company that registered it and the manufacturer. Then check that the registration status shows as active.
Step 6: Read the product information if it's attached. Many records link to a Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), a PDF with official product information. It can help you or your pharmacist confirm details such as the dosage form and what the medicine is for.
Search tips that save time:
If the brand name finds nothing, search the active ingredient instead.
Try the NAFDAC number with and without the hyphen or spaces.
Search one ingredient at a time for combination drugs, such as "lumefantrine".
If you still find nothing, don't assume either way. Ask a pharmacist before you buy.
How to Read Your NAFDAC Green Book Result
What the Green Book shows | What it should match | Warning sign |
Product name | The brand name on your pack | A different or similar-sounding name |
NAFDAC Reg. No. | The number printed on your pack | Number belongs to another product, or isn't found |
Active ingredient and strength | The ingredients and mg on your pack | Different ingredient or strength |
Dosage form and pack size | Tablet, syrup or injection; number per pack | A syrup on record, tablets in your hand |
Applicant / manufacturer | The company names on the label | Different company, or no company named on the pack |
Status | Active | Inactive, or registration past its expiry date |
A useful habit: screenshot the matching record. If a seller later swaps the product or questions you, you have proof of what the genuine registration says.
Can a Fake Drug Pass a NAFDAC Green Book Check?
Yes. A Green Book match proves that a product with those details is registered, not that the pack in your hand is genuine. Counterfeiters often copy a real product's name and NAFDAC number exactly. That is why the Green Book is your first check, not your only one: buy from licensed pharmacies, use the scratch code where available and inspect the pack.
Our guide on how to check if a drug is original in Nigeria covers those extra layers, from scratch codes to spotting mismatched batch numbers.
Red Flags When You Search the Green Book
The NAFDAC number on the pack returns no result at all.
The number exists, but belongs to a different product.
The strength, dosage form or pack size on record differs from your pack.
The company on the label differs from the applicant or manufacturer on record.
The label names no company responsible for the product.
The registration shows as inactive or past its expiry date.
The seller says the drug is "too new to be on the Green Book" or "imported directly".
Someone sends you a link to a "Green Book" that isn't greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng.
Consider Emeka in Enugu (an illustrative example). He finds a WhatsApp vendor selling his mother's blood pressure tablets for ₦4,000 less than the pharmacy. He asks for a photo of the pack and searches the NAFDAC number on the Green Book. It belongs to a cough syrup from a different company. Two minutes of searching saved him money, and possibly saved his mother from weeks on a medicine that does nothing.
Before-You-Buy Checklist
[ ] Searched the brand name, ingredient or NAFDAC number on the official Green Book
[ ] Name, number, ingredients and strength all match the pack
[ ] Dosage form and pack size match
[ ] Company names on the label match the record
[ ] Registration status shows as active
[ ] Bought from a licensed pharmacy or hospital
[ ] Scratch code checked, where the pack has one
[ ] Batch number and expiry date match across carton, blister and leaflet
What If Your Drug Isn't on the Green Book?
Not finding a product doesn't automatically mean it's fake. Spelling differences, very recent approvals or gaps in the data can all cause a miss. At the launch, NAFDAC officials acknowledged that some records may not yet be complete and asked companies to submit updates.
But "maybe" is not good enough for medicine. If you can't find a match, don't buy it or take it until a pharmacist, your doctor or NAFDAC confirms it. Ask the pharmacist to show you the registration, or call NAFDAC.
Where Profiled Fits
The Green Book protects one buyer checking one pack. Pharmacies, clinics, online stores and bulk buyers face a bigger risk: one bad supplier can put fake stock in front of hundreds of patients and customers.
Profiled Nigeria's product authenticity checks help confirm that products are genuine, while our verification services help you confirm that a distributor or supplier is a real, traceable business before you pay. They work alongside the Green Book and your pharmacist's judgement, not instead of them.
What to Do If Your Search Raises a Red Flag
Don't buy it, and don't take it. If you've already started, speak to a pharmacist or doctor before stopping essential treatment, and get a genuine replacement.
Seek medical care immediately if you or a family member reacts badly or isn't getting better.
Keep the evidence. Save the pack, remaining medicine, receipt, seller details and your Green Book screenshot.
Report it to NAFDAC. Visit the nearest NAFDAC office or call NAFDAC's toll-free line, 0800 162 3322, which the agency listed in its 2026 alerts.
Report online sellers to the platform where you found them, so they can't reach the next buyer.
Warn others who may have bought from the same seller.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NAFDAC Green Book free? Yes. The NAFDAC Green Book is free to use on the web at greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng and through NAFDAC's Greenbook mobile app. You don't need to pay anyone to search it. Be wary of agents, vendors or websites that charge you to "verify" a drug through the Green Book, or send you links to lookalike sites.
What can I search on the NAFDAC Green Book? You can search by a medicine's brand name, its active ingredient (generic name) or its NAFDAC registration number. Each product record shows details such as the strength, dosage form, pack size, registration status and the companies behind the product. Match all of these against your pack, not just the name or number.
Why can't I find my drug on the NAFDAC Green Book? You may have a spelling difference, or the brand may be listed under a slightly different name, so try the active ingredient or the NAFDAC number instead. Some records may also be incomplete. If you still can't find it, don't buy or take it until a pharmacist or NAFDAC confirms the product is registered.
Does the NAFDAC Green Book cover food and cosmetics? The Green Book focuses on medicines and health products, including drugs, vaccines, medical devices, herbal products and veterinary medicines. For packaged food, drinks, water, cosmetics and toiletries, check the NAFDAC number through NAFDAC's registered products database instead, and confirm the product details match the pack.
Does a Green Book match mean a drug is original? No. A match confirms that a product with those details is registered with NAFDAC, but counterfeiters can copy a genuine name and number. Combine your Green Book search with buying from a licensed pharmacy, checking any scratch code and inspecting the pack for mismatched batch numbers, poor printing or broken seals.
Conclusion
The NAFDAC Green Book turns the number on your medicine pack into something you can actually check. Search the brand, ingredient or NAFDAC number, match every detail against your pack, and treat any mismatch or missing record as a reason to stop and ask a pharmacist.
For pharmacies, clinics and businesses buying in bulk, Profiled Nigeria adds another layer of protection with business and vendor verification that confirms who you're buying from before stock reaches patients. Learn more about Profiled Nigeria and our mission.
Remember: two minutes on the Green Book is cheaper than two weeks on a fake drug.
Real or fake? Verify before you swallow. Create your free Profiled account today.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified doctor or pharmacist about your medicines.
