Diabetes Drugs in Nigeria
In-depth guides to 10 of the most-used diabetes medications in Nigeria. Each drug page lists NAFDAC-registered brands, current prices, dosage information, side effects, and where to buy.
Market view: the diabetes registration data — 150 active registrations from 54 companies.
Diabetes care in Nigeria runs on metformin — decades old, reliably cheap, and the first drug almost every type 2 patient starts. Glibenclamide and glimepiride still fill many prescriptions, insulin remains essential for type 1 and advanced type 2, and the new arrivals — semaglutide (Ozempic), tirzepatide (Mounjaro), and the SGLT2 tablets like dapagliflozin — have brought both genuine medical progress and a wave of hype, scarcity, and fakes, since the same injections are in global demand for weight loss.
Sugar control is a package: the tablets work far better alongside food changes and walking than alone, and glibenclamide in particular can drop blood sugar dangerously low in older people who skip meals. Prices in this category vary wildly — from a few hundred naira for metformin to hundreds of thousands monthly for imported GLP-1 pens — so the price comparison below is worth a look before you buy.
Diabetes drug prices in Nigeria
As of September 2026, diabetes medicines in Nigeria cost between ₦5,850–₦109,500 per pack depending on the drug, brand, and pack size, with live online prices sampled from Nigerian pharmacies for 6 of the 10 medicines below. The table below compares each medicine's typical range.
- DapagliflozinTypical: ₦17,500–₦40,200 · Online: ~₦18,900
- EmpagliflozinTypical: ₦84,750–₦87,250 · Online: ~₦86,000
- GlibenclamideTypical: ₦18,960 · Online: ~₦18,960
- GlimepirideTypical: Price varies — check with a pharmacy
- InsulinTypical: ₦21,780–₦109,500 · Online: ~₦56,425
- LiraglutideTypical: Price varies — check with a pharmacy
- MetforminTypical: ₦5,850–₦18,910 · Online: ~₦9,530
- SemaglutideTypical: Price varies — check with a pharmacy
- TirzepatideTypical: Price varies — check with a pharmacy
- VildagliptinTypical: ₦12,750–₦35,490 · Online: ~₦30,700
Ranges span brands and pack sizes; online figures are medians sampled from Nigerian online pharmacies and refreshed monthly. Open-market prices are often lower.
All diabetes drug guides
Dapagliflozin
SGLT2 inhibitor
Common brands: Forxiga, Dapzin, Dapiflozin
Forms: Tablet
Price: ~₦18,900 online
Empagliflozin
SGLT2 inhibitor
Common brands: Jardiance
Forms: Tablet
Price: ~₦86,000 online
Glibenclamide
Sulfonylurea antidiabetic
Common brands: Daonil, Semi-Daonil, Glucovance
Forms: Tablet
Price: ~₦18,960 online
Glimepiride
Second-generation sulfonylurea
Common brands: Mepiryl 2 mg Tablet, Mepiryl 4 mg Tablet, Co-Mepiryl Tablet 2 mg/500 mg
Forms: Tablet
Price: Price varies — check with a pharmacy
Insulin
Hormone (Insulin)
Common brands: Mixtard 30, Humulin 70/30, NovoRapid
Forms: Injection (vial), Injection (pen), Injection (cartridge)
Price: ~₦56,425 online
Liraglutide
Check RegistrationGLP-1 receptor agonist
Common brands: Victoza, Saxenda
Forms: Injection (pen)
Price: Price varies — check with a pharmacy
Metformin
Biguanide antidiabetic
Common brands: Glucophage, Emzophage, Glucophage XR
Forms: Tablet, Extended-release tablet
Price: ~₦9,530 online
Semaglutide
Check RegistrationGLP-1 receptor agonist
Common brands: Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy
Forms: Injection (pen), Tablet
Price: Price varies — check with a pharmacy
Tirzepatide
Check RegistrationGIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist (dual)
Common brands: Mounjaro
Forms: Injection (pen)
Price: Price varies — check with a pharmacy
Vildagliptin
DPP-4 inhibitor (gliptin)
Common brands: Galvus, Galvus Met 50/500, Galvus Met 50/850
Forms: Tablet
Price: ~₦30,700 online
Every registered brand, by medicine
The NAFDAC Greenbook's complete brand list for each diabetes medicine — every registration holder and number, not just the well-known names.
Related on Ogbogwu
Conditions treated with diabetes drugs
Guides
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Frequently asked questions
About diabetes drugs in Nigeria
All brand information on this page is cross-referenced with the NAFDAC Greenbook (Nigeria's official registered products database). Pricing reflects typical retail ranges in Nigerian pharmacies and is updated regularly. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice — always consult a qualified pharmacist or doctor.
Daily puzzle: Meddle — pair five brands with their medicines. New game at midnight.