Complete List of Banned and Restricted Drugs in Nigeria (2026)

Drug bans in Nigeria fall into three broad categories: outright bans, restrictions, and controlled substances. Understanding the distinction between these categories is critical for compliance. An outright ban means the drug product cannot be manufactured, imported, sold, or distributed in Nigeria under any circumstances. These products must be removed from all shelves and supply chains immediately upon the ban taking effect.

Restricted drugs are products that are still legally available in Nigeria but with significant limitations on how they can be manufactured, distributed, sold, or prescribed. For example, a drug may be restricted to sale only in licensed pharmacies (as opposed to patent medicine stores), or it may require a prescription from a registered medical practitioner. Some drugs are restricted by dosage strength — the active ingredient itself is not banned, but formulations above a certain concentration are prohibited. Tramadol is a notable example: formulations of 100mg and below are permitted with a prescription, while those above 100mg are banned outright.

Controlled substances are drugs that fall under the regulation of the NDLEA under the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (Cap N30 LFN 2004) and the Indian Hemp Act. These include narcotics, psychotropic substances, and precursor chemicals listed in various schedules. Controlled substances are not necessarily banned; rather, they are tightly regulated and require special licenses for manufacture, import, and distribution. Medical professionals may prescribe certain controlled substances under strict protocols.

There is also a category of drugs that are not formally banned but are effectively prohibited because they have never been registered with NAFDAC or their registration has been revoked. Under Nigerian law, it is illegal to sell or distribute any drug that does not carry a valid NAFDAC registration number. Products whose registration has been suspended or cancelled fall into this de facto banned category, even if the active ingredient itself is legal.

The following is a comprehensive list of drugs and drug products that have been banned by NAFDAC as of February 2026. This list includes both active ingredients and specific product formulations. Codeine-containing cough syrups were banned in April 2018 following the BBC Africa Eye documentary 'Sweet Sweet Codeine' which exposed the widespread abuse of codeine cough syrups, particularly among young Nigerians. The ban specifically covers codeine preparations in cough syrup formulation, though codeine remains available in tablet form by prescription only for legitimate medical use.

Tramadol hydrochloride in formulations exceeding 100mg per dosage unit was banned in 2018. This ban was prompted by the massive abuse of high-dose tramadol (particularly 200mg and 225mg capsules) across Nigeria, especially in northern states. NAFDAC found that these high-dose formulations had no legitimate medical justification and were being manufactured primarily for the illicit market. The standard 50mg and 100mg tramadol formulations remain available by prescription but are under heightened surveillance.

Other banned or recalled drug products include certain counterfeit artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) that were found to contain little or no active ingredient, posing a direct threat to malaria treatment outcomes. Specific banned products have included fake versions of popular antimalarials like Coartem (artemether-lumefantrine) and Lonart. Additionally, phenylpropanolamine (PPA)-containing products were withdrawn following global safety concerns about increased stroke risk. Cisapride was also withdrawn due to serious cardiac side effects. Rosiglitazone-containing products were restricted following cardiovascular safety concerns.

NAFDAC has also banned several specific product brands found to be substandard or adulterated. These include various batches of eye drops, injectable medications, and paediatric formulations that failed quality testing. The agency regularly publishes alerts and recall notices for specific batch numbers of products that fail post-market surveillance testing. It is important to note that the ban may apply to a specific manufacturer's product rather than the active ingredient itself.

Skin-lightening products containing mercury or hydroquinone above 2% concentration have been banned due to serious health risks including kidney damage, skin cancer, and neurological effects. Several popular skin-lightening creams have been pulled from the market. NAFDAC has also banned the indiscriminate sale of certain antibiotics and antimicrobials without prescription, though enforcement of this restriction remains challenging, particularly in open markets and patent medicine stores.

Between 2024 and 2025, NAFDAC intensified its regulatory actions, resulting in several new bans and restrictions. The agency expanded its surveillance of the pharmaceutical market, deploying mobile laboratories and increasing the frequency of market raids. Several products were added to the banned list based on pharmacovigilance data, post-market surveillance findings, and intelligence gathered from enforcement operations.

NAFDAC issued multiple product alerts throughout 2024 and 2025 regarding substandard and falsified medicines detected in Nigerian markets. These alerts covered a range of products from antimalarials to antibiotics and antihypertensives. Products identified as substandard were immediately recalled and their NAFDAC registration numbers suspended or revoked. Importers and distributors of these products faced enforcement actions including seizure of stock, closure of premises, and prosecution.

The regulation of opioid-containing products was further tightened, with NAFDAC working alongside the NDLEA to restrict access to pentazocine and other opioid analgesics. New restrictions were placed on the distribution channels for certain pain medications, requiring that they be dispensed only through hospital pharmacies or licensed community pharmacies with proper documentation. Patent medicine vendors were explicitly prohibited from stocking or selling these products.

NAFDAC also increased scrutiny on herbal and traditional medicines, banning several products that were found to be adulterated with undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients. Some herbal preparations marketed for diabetes, hypertension, or erectile dysfunction were found to contain hidden active pharmaceutical ingredients such as glibenclamide, sildenafil, or diclofenac, posing serious health risks to consumers who were unaware of these ingredients.

Controlled substances in Nigeria are regulated primarily by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) under the NDLEA Act. The Act classifies controlled substances into schedules based on their potential for abuse, accepted medical use, and safety profile. Schedule I substances have the highest potential for abuse and no accepted medical use in Nigeria; these include cannabis (Indian hemp), cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. Schedule II includes substances with high abuse potential but some accepted medical use, such as morphine, fentanyl, and amphetamines.

In practice, controlled substances that have legitimate medical applications — such as morphine for cancer pain management — are available through tightly regulated channels. Hospitals and licensed pharmacies must obtain special permits from the Federal Ministry of Health and NDLEA to stock and dispense these substances. Strict record-keeping requirements apply, and regular audits are conducted to ensure compliance. The diversion of controlled substances from medical channels to the illicit market is a serious criminal offence.

The regulation of controlled substances has been a subject of debate in Nigeria, particularly regarding access to essential pain medications. The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have noted that Nigeria, like many African countries, has very low per-capita consumption of opioid analgesics for medical purposes, partly due to overly restrictive regulations and fear of legal consequences among healthcare providers. Efforts are ongoing to balance the need for access to essential controlled medicines with the imperative to prevent diversion and abuse.

Precursor chemicals used in the manufacture of controlled substances are also regulated under Nigerian law. The importation, export, and distribution of these chemicals require special permits. NAFDAC and NDLEA jointly monitor the movement of precursor chemicals to prevent their diversion to illicit drug manufacturing operations.

Drugs are banned in Nigeria for several interconnected reasons, all rooted in the protection of public health. The most common reason is abuse potential. When a drug is found to be widely abused, particularly among young people, NAFDAC may impose restrictions or an outright ban. The codeine cough syrup ban of 2018 is the most prominent example: the widespread recreational abuse of codeine-containing syrups, which affected an estimated 3 million Nigerians according to some reports, prompted swift regulatory action.

Public health safety concerns are another major driver of drug bans. When a drug is found to cause serious adverse effects that outweigh its therapeutic benefits, it may be withdrawn from the market. This is often triggered by global pharmacovigilance signals — for example, when the US FDA or European Medicines Agency issues a safety warning, NAFDAC reviews the evidence and may take corresponding action in Nigeria. The withdrawal of phenylpropanolamine and cisapride from the Nigerian market followed similar global actions.

The proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs is a particularly significant reason for regulatory action in Nigeria. When a product is so widely counterfeited that genuine versions can no longer be reliably distinguished from fakes in the supply chain, NAFDAC may ban specific formulations or restrict distribution channels. The counterfeit drug problem in Nigeria has been estimated to affect up to 17% of medicines in circulation, according to WHO data, making this a persistent and serious public health threat.

Economic and trade policy considerations also play a role. Nigeria has at various times banned the importation of certain drug products in order to promote local pharmaceutical manufacturing. While this is technically a trade restriction rather than a safety ban, the practical effect is the same: imported versions of these products cannot legally enter or be sold in Nigeria. NAFDAC's guidelines on locally manufactured products versus imported equivalents continue to evolve as part of Nigeria's broader industrialisation agenda.

Regulatory non-compliance is another reason drugs are removed from the market. Products that are imported or manufactured without proper NAFDAC registration, or that fail to meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, are subject to seizure and ban. NAFDAC routinely tests products from the market and takes action against those that fail quality tests, whether due to incorrect active ingredient content, contamination, poor dissolution profiles, or inadequate packaging and labelling.

The penalties for dealing in banned, counterfeit, or unregistered drugs in Nigeria are severe and are designed to serve as a deterrent. Under the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, any person found guilty of producing, importing, selling, or distributing counterfeit, adulterated, banned, or unregistered drugs is liable to imprisonment for a term not less than 5 years and not exceeding 15 years, or to a fine, or both imprisonment and a fine.

The NAFDAC Act further provides for penalties including the forfeiture of goods, closure of premises, and cancellation of business licences. NAFDAC enforcement officers have the power to seal premises, seize products, and arrest offenders without a warrant in certain circumstances. Seized products are typically destroyed publicly to send a strong message to would-be offenders. NAFDAC regularly organises public destruction of seized counterfeit and banned products, often worth millions or billions of naira.

For controlled substances, the NDLEA Act prescribes even stiffer penalties. Trafficking in narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances can attract life imprisonment in certain cases. The possession of controlled substances without lawful authority is also a criminal offence, with penalties varying based on the quantity and type of substance involved. The NDLEA Act provides for a minimum sentence of 15 years for trafficking in cocaine, heroin, or similar substances, and up to 25 years or life imprisonment for large-scale trafficking operations.

Corporate entities are not exempt from prosecution. Companies found to be dealing in banned or counterfeit drugs face substantial fines, revocation of all NAFDAC registrations, and criminal prosecution of directors and officers. The trend in recent enforcement has been towards holding individual corporate officers personally liable for the actions of their companies, making it impossible to hide behind the corporate veil. This has heightened the compliance stakes for pharmaceutical company executives and directors across Nigeria.

Beyond criminal penalties, there are also civil and administrative consequences. Pharmacists found guilty of dealing in banned drugs may face disciplinary action from the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, including suspension or revocation of their practising licence. Patent medicine vendors may have their licences cancelled. Healthcare facilities that stock or dispense banned drugs risk closure by state health authorities. The reputational damage from being associated with banned or counterfeit drugs can also be devastating to a business.

NAFDAC provides several resources for checking whether a drug is banned, restricted, or registered. The most authoritative source is the NAFDAC website (www.nafdac.gov.ng), which publishes product alerts, recall notices, and lists of banned products. The website also hosts a searchable database of registered products, allowing users to verify whether a specific drug product has a valid NAFDAC registration number. If a product does not appear in the registered products database, it should be treated as unregistered and potentially illegal.

NAFDAC's Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) allows consumers and traders to verify individual product units by scratching a panel on the product packaging to reveal a unique code, then sending the code via SMS to a designated number. The system responds with a message confirming whether the product is genuine and registered. While MAS does not directly tell you if a drug category is banned, it will flag products that are not properly registered, which includes banned products being sold illegally.

For pharmaceutical traders and healthcare professionals, NAFDAC periodically issues circulars and gazette notices detailing new bans, restrictions, and regulatory changes. These are distributed through the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), the National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED), and other professional bodies. Staying current with these circulars is essential for compliance. Traders should ensure they are on the mailing lists of their relevant professional associations.

When in doubt about the status of a specific product, traders and healthcare professionals can contact NAFDAC directly through its zonal offices located across the country, or through the NAFDAC consumer hotline. NAFDAC staff can provide guidance on whether a particular product is banned, restricted, or requires special handling. It is always better to verify before stocking or selling a product than to face the consequences of dealing in a banned substance.

If you discover that you are currently holding stock of a banned or recalled drug product, the most important step is to immediately stop selling or distributing the product. Remove it from your shelves, display counters, and storage areas. Segregate it clearly from your legitimate stock to prevent accidental sale. Do not attempt to sell off remaining stock at a discount or through alternative channels — this would compound the offence and increase your legal liability.

The next step is to contact NAFDAC. While it may seem counterintuitive to approach the regulatory authority voluntarily, NAFDAC has historically been more lenient with traders who demonstrate proactive compliance compared to those who are caught during enforcement raids. Voluntary disclosure and surrender of banned products can be treated as a mitigating factor in any subsequent regulatory or legal proceedings. Contact your nearest NAFDAC zonal office and explain the situation.

Document everything related to the banned product in your possession: how and when you acquired it, from which supplier, the quantity you purchased, how much you have sold (if any), and the current quantity remaining. This documentation will be important for your own legal protection and will help NAFDAC trace the supply chain to identify the source of the banned product. If you acquired the product from a supplier who knowingly sold you a banned item, that supplier may bear greater legal responsibility.

Going forward, implement a compliance system to prevent a recurrence. This should include regular checks of NAFDAC alerts and circulars, verification of all products received from suppliers against the NAFDAC registered products database, and training for your staff on how to identify banned or suspicious products. Consider joining professional associations that provide regular regulatory updates. The cost of compliance is always less than the cost of being caught with banned drugs on your premises.

NAFDAC has significantly stepped up enforcement activities in recent years, conducting regular raids on pharmaceutical markets, warehouses, and distribution centres across Nigeria. In 2024 and 2025, the agency carried out major enforcement operations in Onitsha (Anambra State), Lagos, Kano, Aba (Abia State), and Ogun State. These operations resulted in the seizure of products worth billions of naira and the arrest of numerous suspects. The agency reported that seized products included unregistered drugs, banned substances, expired medications, and counterfeits of popular brands.

The Ogbogwu market at Bridge Head in Onitsha has been a particular focus of NAFDAC enforcement. As one of the largest open drug markets in West Africa, Ogbogwu has long been identified as a major source of unregulated pharmaceutical products. NAFDAC operations in the market have resulted in the closure of shops, seizure of goods, and arrests of dealers found stocking banned or unregistered products. The market traders' association has been engaged in negotiations with NAFDAC regarding compliance pathways, including the proposed transition to Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWCs).

In Lagos, NAFDAC has targeted Idumota market and surrounding areas in Lagos Island, where large quantities of unregistered and counterfeit drugs have historically been sold. The agency has also conducted operations at the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, intercepting consignments of banned and unregistered pharmaceutical products before they enter the Nigerian market. Port enforcement has been strengthened through the deployment of mobile laboratories and increased collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service.

NAFDAC has increasingly adopted a technology-driven approach to enforcement. The agency uses the Track and Trace system to monitor the movement of pharmaceutical products through the supply chain, making it easier to identify products that have been diverted from legitimate channels or that are being distributed without proper documentation. The use of mobile laboratories for rapid on-site testing has also enhanced the agency's ability to detect substandard and counterfeit products during market raids.

The agency has also pursued high-profile prosecutions to demonstrate its seriousness about enforcement. Several pharmaceutical company executives, importers, and market traders have been prosecuted and convicted for offences related to banned and counterfeit drugs. These prosecutions have been widely publicised to serve as a deterrent to others. NAFDAC has stated that it will continue to intensify enforcement activities and has called on members of the public to support its efforts by reporting suspected illegal drug activities.