The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) has raised concerns over the circulation of unregistered condoms in Nigeria, posing significant public health risks to users.
The agency’s warning follows the discovery of “Foula condoms,” an unregistered product, in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, and Zango, Kastina State.
According to NAFDAC, the discovery was made by officials of the Post-Marketing Surveillance Directorate (PMS) during a Risk-Based Post Marketing Surveillance study on registered condoms in Nigeria.
“We have discovered unregistered condoms in some parts of the country, and this poses a significant risk to public health,” NAFDAC stated.
It added, “Unregistered condoms lack the necessary quality and safety checks, increasing the likelihood of breakage or leakage.”
NAFDAC emphasized that the use of unregistered condoms can lead to the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, and contribute to unintended pregnancies. “To be most effective, any barrier method used for contraception or preventing infection must be used correctly,” the agency said.
The Foula product, not registered by NAFDAC, is not labeled in English and is marketed as “a dual-purpose method for prevention of unintended pregnancy and protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)”.
NAFDAC has instructed its zonal directors and state coordinators to conduct thorough surveillance and remove unregistered products from circulation.
The agency urges traders, healthcare professionals, and consumers to be cautious and prevent the importation, distribution, sale, and use of unauthorized products.
“Medical products and devices should be sourced exclusively from authorized or licensed suppliers, with careful attention to verifying each product’s authenticity and physical condition,” NAFDAC advised.
Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to medicinal products or devices to the nearest NAFDAC office or through the agency’s e-reporting platforms.
“Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicinal products or devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the e-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website,” the agency said.
