October 13, 2026
October 13, 2026
How to Verify a NAFDAC Number Before You Buy
That syrup, cream or packaged snack may carry a NAFDAC number, but is it real? Fake and borrowed numbers are common in Nigerian markets. Learn how to verify a NAFDAC number in minutes before you spend money or risk your health.
That syrup, cream or packaged snack may carry a NAFDAC number, but is it real? Fake and borrowed numbers are common in Nigerian markets. Learn how to verify a NAFDAC number in minutes before you spend money or risk your health.
A NAFDAC number is meant to prove a product was approved for sale in Nigeria. Here is how to check one yourself and what to do when it fails.
Why fake products are a real danger in Nigeria
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) regulates food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals in Nigeria. A product needs a NAFDAC registration number before it can be legally sold. But enforcement raids keep finding fakes:
In February 2026, NAFDAC seized more than 10 million doses of fake malaria drugs and cosmetics worth about ₦3 billion from a warehouse at Trade Fair Market, Lagos. The agency said the drugs could have killed around three million Nigerians if they had reached the market (AllAfrica, 2026).
In March 2026, NAFDAC alerted the public to fake Cerelac on sale in Okota, Lagos. The product had expired, but its date had been altered to read 10-2026 (AllAfrica, 2026).
In August 2025, raids on drug hawkers in Lagos, Kaduna, Abuja and Asaba seized unsafe products worth over ₦110 million, and NAFDAC urged Nigerians to stop buying medicines from hawkers (Gazette Nigeria, 2025).
Fake drugs can fail to treat an illness, cause poisoning, or create drug resistance. Fake food and cosmetics can carry harmful chemicals. Children and older people are often hit hardest.
How do I verify a NAFDAC number? 4 methods
The quickest way to verify a NAFDAC number is to search it on NAFDAC's official databases. For medicines, use the NAFDAC Greenbook at greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng. For food, cosmetics and other products, use the registered products search on nafdac.gov.ng. The number must return the same product name, brand and manufacturer printed on the pack.
Here is how each method works.
1. Search the NAFDAC Greenbook (for medicines)
The NAFDAC Greenbook is a public database of medicines approved for sale in Nigeria. When NAFDAC unveiled it in December 2023, it listed 6,432 registered pharmaceutical products (TheCable, 2023).
Open greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng (type the address yourself).
Search by product name or NAFDAC number.
Compare the result with the pack: product name, strength, form (tablet, syrup, injection) and manufacturer must all match.
2. Use NAFDAC's registered products search (for food, cosmetics and more)
NAFDAC's registered products page lets you search by product name, product type, active ingredient and keywords (Dubawa, 2023). Use it for packaged food, drinks, cosmetics, soaps and other regulated items.
3. Use the scratch code (Mobile Authentication Service)
Some medicines, especially antimalarials and antibiotics, carry a scratch-off panel under NAFDAC's Mobile Authentication Service (MAS). Scratch to reveal the PIN, then send it by SMS to the short code printed on the pack. You will get a reply telling you whether the product is genuine. Only use the code on the product itself, never one sent to you by a seller.
4. Scan the barcode and inspect the pack
Scanning a barcode can show the product's details, but treat it as a supporting check, not proof. Also inspect the packaging: blurred printing, spelling errors, a missing batch number, or a date that looks re-inked or stickered over are warning signs.
What your NAFDAC check result means
Result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
Number returns the same product, brand and manufacturer | The registration is genuine | Still check the expiry date, batch number and packaging |
Number returns a different product | The number has been borrowed or copied | Do not buy or use it; report it to NAFDAC |
Number returns nothing | The number may be fake, mistyped or for an unregistered product | Re-check the digits; if it still fails, do not buy |
No NAFDAC number on the pack | The product is not registered for sale in Nigeria | Avoid it, especially medicines, baby food and cosmetics |
MAS scratch code says "fake" or "already used" | The pack is likely counterfeit or recycled | Return it and report to NAFDAC |
Red flags of fake or unregistered products
The price is far below what pharmacies or supermarkets charge.
The product is sold by hawkers, at motor parks or by Instagram sellers with no physical shop.
Spelling mistakes, faded colours or a different font from the version you usually buy.
The expiry date is smudged, scratched, stickered over or printed in a different style from the rest of the label.
The NAFDAC number is handwritten, printed on a sticker, or missing.
The seller gets defensive when you ask where the product came from.
The scratch panel is already scratched, or the seller offers to "verify it for you".
How to protect yourself and your family
Buy from licensed outlets. Use registered pharmacies, patent medicine stores and supermarkets you know. Avoid buying medicines from hawkers, buses and markets.
Verify before you pay, not after. Check the NAFDAC number in the shop. It takes a minute on your phone.
Keep your receipt and the pack. If something goes wrong, you will need the batch number and proof of where you bought it.
Be extra careful online. Instagram and WhatsApp sellers of cosmetics, supplements and "imported" baby food are a common source of fakes. Ask for the product's NAFDAC number before you pay and check it yourself. Verify the seller too: our guide on fuel scams following Nigeria's price hike shows how to check a supplier's registration and account name before you transfer money.
Use Profiled for high-value or bulk purchases. If you run a pharmacy, supermarket or salon and buy stock from distributors, Profiled Nigeria's product authenticity checks and vendor verification help you confirm both the product and the supplier before you commit.
What to do if you bought a fake product
Stop using it immediately. If you or a child has taken a suspect medicine and feels unwell, go to a hospital and take the pack with you.
Keep the evidence: the pack, receipt, batch number, and the seller's details.
Report to NAFDAC. Call 0800-162-3322, visit the nearest NAFDAC office, or use the complaints and enquiries page on NAFDAC's website (AllAfrica, 2026).
If you were defrauded online, report the seller to the platform and, for larger sums, to the EFCC or the police.
Warn others in your family and community groups, especially if it is a baby product or medicine.
Reporting is how NAFDAC finds and removes fake products. One report can protect thousands of families.
FAQ
How do I check if a NAFDAC number is real? Search the number on NAFDAC's official databases: the Greenbook (greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng) for medicines, or the registered products search on nafdac.gov.ng for food, cosmetics and other items. A real number returns the same product name, brand and manufacturer shown on the pack. If it returns nothing or a different product, do not buy it.
What is the NAFDAC Greenbook? The Greenbook is NAFDAC's public online database of medicines registered for sale in Nigeria. When it was unveiled in December 2023 it listed more than 6,400 pharmaceutical products. Anyone can search it by product name or registration number from a phone or computer to confirm that a drug is approved.
Can a fake product have a real NAFDAC number? Yes. Counterfeiters often copy a genuine NAFDAC number from another product, or from the real brand they are imitating. That is why you must check that the number matches the exact product, strength and manufacturer, and also inspect the packaging, batch number and expiry date. A matching number is necessary but not enough on its own.
How do I report a fake product to NAFDAC? Stop using the product, keep the pack and receipt, and contact NAFDAC. In 2026 the agency asked the public to call 0800-162-3322, visit the nearest NAFDAC office, or use the complaints page on its website. Give the product name, batch number, where you bought it and when, so officers can trace the source.
Is a product without a NAFDAC number illegal? Regulated products such as medicines, packaged food, drinks, cosmetics and bottled water need NAFDAC registration before they can be sold in Nigeria. A missing number is a strong sign the product has not been approved. Avoid such products, especially medicines and baby food, and report sellers who stock them to NAFDAC.
Conclusion
A NAFDAC number only protects you if you check it. Search it on the Greenbook or NAFDAC's registered products database, make sure it matches the exact product on the pack, and inspect the label before you pay. Knowing how to verify a NAFDAC number takes a minute and can save a life.
Profiled Nigeria adds a second layer of protection. Our product authenticity checks help you confirm what you are buying, and our vendor verification confirms who you are buying from. DigiLock, our fraud-intelligence tool, keeps you ahead of the scam patterns targeting Nigerian shoppers. No check removes every risk, but layered checks make fakes much harder to slip past you. Read why digital trust in Nigeria cannot wait, and whether Nigeria's anti-fraud policies are making us safer.
If you didn't check it, you don't know it. Verify before you swallow, spray or serve.
Create your free Profiled account today and verify before you trust.
A NAFDAC number is meant to prove a product was approved for sale in Nigeria. Here is how to check one yourself and what to do when it fails.
Why fake products are a real danger in Nigeria
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) regulates food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water and chemicals in Nigeria. A product needs a NAFDAC registration number before it can be legally sold. But enforcement raids keep finding fakes:
In February 2026, NAFDAC seized more than 10 million doses of fake malaria drugs and cosmetics worth about ₦3 billion from a warehouse at Trade Fair Market, Lagos. The agency said the drugs could have killed around three million Nigerians if they had reached the market (AllAfrica, 2026).
In March 2026, NAFDAC alerted the public to fake Cerelac on sale in Okota, Lagos. The product had expired, but its date had been altered to read 10-2026 (AllAfrica, 2026).
In August 2025, raids on drug hawkers in Lagos, Kaduna, Abuja and Asaba seized unsafe products worth over ₦110 million, and NAFDAC urged Nigerians to stop buying medicines from hawkers (Gazette Nigeria, 2025).
Fake drugs can fail to treat an illness, cause poisoning, or create drug resistance. Fake food and cosmetics can carry harmful chemicals. Children and older people are often hit hardest.
How do I verify a NAFDAC number? 4 methods
The quickest way to verify a NAFDAC number is to search it on NAFDAC's official databases. For medicines, use the NAFDAC Greenbook at greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng. For food, cosmetics and other products, use the registered products search on nafdac.gov.ng. The number must return the same product name, brand and manufacturer printed on the pack.
Here is how each method works.
1. Search the NAFDAC Greenbook (for medicines)
The NAFDAC Greenbook is a public database of medicines approved for sale in Nigeria. When NAFDAC unveiled it in December 2023, it listed 6,432 registered pharmaceutical products (TheCable, 2023).
Open greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng (type the address yourself).
Search by product name or NAFDAC number.
Compare the result with the pack: product name, strength, form (tablet, syrup, injection) and manufacturer must all match.
2. Use NAFDAC's registered products search (for food, cosmetics and more)
NAFDAC's registered products page lets you search by product name, product type, active ingredient and keywords (Dubawa, 2023). Use it for packaged food, drinks, cosmetics, soaps and other regulated items.
3. Use the scratch code (Mobile Authentication Service)
Some medicines, especially antimalarials and antibiotics, carry a scratch-off panel under NAFDAC's Mobile Authentication Service (MAS). Scratch to reveal the PIN, then send it by SMS to the short code printed on the pack. You will get a reply telling you whether the product is genuine. Only use the code on the product itself, never one sent to you by a seller.
4. Scan the barcode and inspect the pack
Scanning a barcode can show the product's details, but treat it as a supporting check, not proof. Also inspect the packaging: blurred printing, spelling errors, a missing batch number, or a date that looks re-inked or stickered over are warning signs.
What your NAFDAC check result means
Result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
Number returns the same product, brand and manufacturer | The registration is genuine | Still check the expiry date, batch number and packaging |
Number returns a different product | The number has been borrowed or copied | Do not buy or use it; report it to NAFDAC |
Number returns nothing | The number may be fake, mistyped or for an unregistered product | Re-check the digits; if it still fails, do not buy |
No NAFDAC number on the pack | The product is not registered for sale in Nigeria | Avoid it, especially medicines, baby food and cosmetics |
MAS scratch code says "fake" or "already used" | The pack is likely counterfeit or recycled | Return it and report to NAFDAC |
Red flags of fake or unregistered products
The price is far below what pharmacies or supermarkets charge.
The product is sold by hawkers, at motor parks or by Instagram sellers with no physical shop.
Spelling mistakes, faded colours or a different font from the version you usually buy.
The expiry date is smudged, scratched, stickered over or printed in a different style from the rest of the label.
The NAFDAC number is handwritten, printed on a sticker, or missing.
The seller gets defensive when you ask where the product came from.
The scratch panel is already scratched, or the seller offers to "verify it for you".
How to protect yourself and your family
Buy from licensed outlets. Use registered pharmacies, patent medicine stores and supermarkets you know. Avoid buying medicines from hawkers, buses and markets.
Verify before you pay, not after. Check the NAFDAC number in the shop. It takes a minute on your phone.
Keep your receipt and the pack. If something goes wrong, you will need the batch number and proof of where you bought it.
Be extra careful online. Instagram and WhatsApp sellers of cosmetics, supplements and "imported" baby food are a common source of fakes. Ask for the product's NAFDAC number before you pay and check it yourself. Verify the seller too: our guide on fuel scams following Nigeria's price hike shows how to check a supplier's registration and account name before you transfer money.
Use Profiled for high-value or bulk purchases. If you run a pharmacy, supermarket or salon and buy stock from distributors, Profiled Nigeria's product authenticity checks and vendor verification help you confirm both the product and the supplier before you commit.
What to do if you bought a fake product
Stop using it immediately. If you or a child has taken a suspect medicine and feels unwell, go to a hospital and take the pack with you.
Keep the evidence: the pack, receipt, batch number, and the seller's details.
Report to NAFDAC. Call 0800-162-3322, visit the nearest NAFDAC office, or use the complaints and enquiries page on NAFDAC's website (AllAfrica, 2026).
If you were defrauded online, report the seller to the platform and, for larger sums, to the EFCC or the police.
Warn others in your family and community groups, especially if it is a baby product or medicine.
Reporting is how NAFDAC finds and removes fake products. One report can protect thousands of families.
FAQ
How do I check if a NAFDAC number is real? Search the number on NAFDAC's official databases: the Greenbook (greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng) for medicines, or the registered products search on nafdac.gov.ng for food, cosmetics and other items. A real number returns the same product name, brand and manufacturer shown on the pack. If it returns nothing or a different product, do not buy it.
What is the NAFDAC Greenbook? The Greenbook is NAFDAC's public online database of medicines registered for sale in Nigeria. When it was unveiled in December 2023 it listed more than 6,400 pharmaceutical products. Anyone can search it by product name or registration number from a phone or computer to confirm that a drug is approved.
Can a fake product have a real NAFDAC number? Yes. Counterfeiters often copy a genuine NAFDAC number from another product, or from the real brand they are imitating. That is why you must check that the number matches the exact product, strength and manufacturer, and also inspect the packaging, batch number and expiry date. A matching number is necessary but not enough on its own.
How do I report a fake product to NAFDAC? Stop using the product, keep the pack and receipt, and contact NAFDAC. In 2026 the agency asked the public to call 0800-162-3322, visit the nearest NAFDAC office, or use the complaints page on its website. Give the product name, batch number, where you bought it and when, so officers can trace the source.
Is a product without a NAFDAC number illegal? Regulated products such as medicines, packaged food, drinks, cosmetics and bottled water need NAFDAC registration before they can be sold in Nigeria. A missing number is a strong sign the product has not been approved. Avoid such products, especially medicines and baby food, and report sellers who stock them to NAFDAC.
Conclusion
A NAFDAC number only protects you if you check it. Search it on the Greenbook or NAFDAC's registered products database, make sure it matches the exact product on the pack, and inspect the label before you pay. Knowing how to verify a NAFDAC number takes a minute and can save a life.
Profiled Nigeria adds a second layer of protection. Our product authenticity checks help you confirm what you are buying, and our vendor verification confirms who you are buying from. DigiLock, our fraud-intelligence tool, keeps you ahead of the scam patterns targeting Nigerian shoppers. No check removes every risk, but layered checks make fakes much harder to slip past you. Read why digital trust in Nigeria cannot wait, and whether Nigeria's anti-fraud policies are making us safer.
If you didn't check it, you don't know it. Verify before you swallow, spray or serve.
Create your free Profiled account today and verify before you trust.
