Essential medicines in Nigeria
The WHO's essential-medicines list names the drugs every health system should have — but it can't tell you what they cost in Nigeria, or which brands here are genuine. This page does, for the 58 essential medicines we cover: current pharmacy prices (sampled July 2026), NAFDAC-registered brand counts, and free verification for each.
Allergy
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorpheniramine | ~₦775 online | 27 |
| Loratadine | ~₦275 online | 24 |
Anti-HIV/ARVs
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Lamivudine | ₦500–₦5,000 | — |
| Tenofovir/Lamivudine/Dolutegravir | ₦500–₦5,000 | 6 |
Anti-Tuberculosis
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Isoniazid | ₦200–₦3,000 | 3 |
| Rifampicin | ₦500–₦8,000 | — |
Antibiotics
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Amoxicillin | ~₦4,200 online | 47 |
| Amoxicillin-Clavulanate | ~₦13,000 online | 115 |
| Azithromycin | ~₦5,750 online | 78 |
| Ceftriaxone | ~₦14,670 online | 114 |
| Ciprofloxacin | ~₦5,560 online | 101 |
| Co-trimoxazole (Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim) | ₦100–₦3,000 | 36 |
| Doxycycline | ~₦775 online | 15 |
| Metronidazole | ~₦2,575 online | 70 |
Antifungals
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Fluconazole | ~₦3,650 online | 52 |
Antimalarials
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Artemether-Lumefantrine | ~₦3,670 online | 307 |
| Artesunate | ~₦1,300 online | 54 |
| Chloroquine | ₦200–₦1,500 | 15 |
| Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine | ~₦2,350 online | 26 |
| Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine | ₦150–₦1,200 | 12 |
Antiparasitics
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Albendazole | ~₦1,700 online | 39 |
| Ivermectin | ₦500–₦3,500 | 2 |
| Praziquantel | ₦500–₦3,500 | 1 |
Cholesterol
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Atorvastatin | ~₦5,520 online | 34 |
| Simvastatin | varies | 1 |
Dermatology
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Clotrimazole | ~₦6,350 online | 19 |
| Hydrocortisone | ~₦1,660 online | 20 |
Diabetes
Digestive Health
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Loperamide | ~₦3,590 online | 33 |
| Omeprazole | ~₦2,490 online | 80 |
| Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) | ~₦850 online | 3 |
Eye & Ear Drops
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Chloramphenicol (eye & ear drops) | varies | 15 |
| Timolol (glaucoma eye drops) | varies | 14 |
Family Planning
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Combined Oral Contraceptives | ~₦5,500 online | 1 |
| Levonorgestrel (emergency contraception) | ~₦2,840 online | 10 |
| Medroxyprogesterone acetate (injectable contraceptive) | ~₦400,005 online | 3 |
Hypertension
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Amlodipine | ~₦2,100 online | 67 |
| Atenolol | ~₦3,150 online | 10 |
| Labetalol | ~₦14,200 online | 2 |
| Lisinopril | ~₦1,210 online | 55 |
| Losartan | ~₦1,900 online | 42 |
| Nifedipine | ~₦12,320 online | 7 |
Mental Health
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Fluoxetine | ₦2,000–₦9,000 | 1 |
| Sertraline | ₦2,500–₦12,000 | — |
Pain & Fever
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Diclofenac | ~₦6,800 online | 125 |
| Ibuprofen | ~₦1,070 online | 57 |
| Paracetamol | ~₦1,050 online | 90 |
Reproductive Health
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Misoprostol | ~₦8,420 online | 8 |
| Tranexamic acid | ₦1,500–₦6,000 | 7 |
Respiratory
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Prednisolone | ~₦6,210 online | 21 |
| Salbutamol | ~₦9,000 online | 7 |
Sickle Cell
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Hydroxyurea | ~₦3,340 online | 8 |
Vitamins & Supplements
| Medicine | Typical price | Active listings |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrous Sulfate | ~₦3,460 online | 11 |
| Folic Acid | ~₦1,100 online | 6 |
| Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) | ~₦1,420 online | 66 |
| Zinc Supplement | ₦200–₦4,000 | 13 |
Flags align to the 23rd WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (2023). Prices are sampled monthly from licensed Nigerian online pharmacies and span brands and pack sizes — indicative only. Registration counts are from our copy of the NAFDAC Greenbook (July 2026); listings can lag renewals. Official lists: WHO Model List and Nigeria's Essential Medicines List (Federal Ministry of Health).
Procuring essential medicines in volume?
Hospitals, NGOs, and programme buyers: tell us the medicines and quantities you need and we'll connect you with verified, NAFDAC-registered sources.
Frequently asked questions
Essential medicines are the drugs the World Health Organization judges to satisfy the priority health needs of a population — chosen for efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness. The WHO Model List guides governments worldwide; Nigeria maintains its own national Essential Medicines List based on it, which shapes what public hospitals and primary health centres stock.
No — the full WHO Model List runs to several hundred items, and Nigeria's national list is similarly long. This page covers the essential medicines Ogbogwu has full guides for, adding what the official PDFs can't: current Nigerian prices, NAFDAC-registered brands, and free verification. For the complete official lists, see the WHO Model List and Nigeria's Essential Medicines List from the Federal Ministry of Health.
Often, but not automatically. Essential-list status drives generic competition — paracetamol, metformin, and amlodipine have dozens of registered brands and low prices — but market prices still vary widely by brand, pack size, and location. The prices shown here are sampled monthly from licensed Nigerian online pharmacies, so you can judge each medicine on current figures rather than assumptions.