Verify NAFDAC Registration
Check if a drug product is registered with NAFDAC. Search by registration number or brand name across our database of 198 registered products.
How to Find Your NAFDAC Number
The NAFDAC registration number is printed on the packaging of every registered pharmaceutical product in Nigeria. Look for a code that typically starts with a letter followed by numbers (e.g., A4-0123, B1-5678).
Where to look:
- On the outer carton/box of the drug
- On the bottle or blister pack label
- Usually near the manufacturing and expiry dates
- Preceded by “NAFDAC Reg. No.” or “NRN”
Understanding NAFDAC Registration Numbers
NAFDAC registration numbers follow a specific format that indicates the product category. The letter prefix identifies the type of product:
Drug products (most common)
Biologics and vaccines
Locally manufactured drugs
Cosmetics and personal care
The digits after the hyphen (e.g., 0490 in 04-0490) are a unique sequential registration number assigned by NAFDAC when the product is approved. Newer registrations may use a longer format like A4-100137, where the six-digit number reflects NAFDAC's expanded numbering system.
How to Know if a NAFDAC Number is Fake
Counterfeit drugs are a serious problem in Nigeria, and fake NAFDAC numbers are one of the ways criminals try to pass off dangerous products as legitimate. Here are the key ways to spot a fake NAFDAC registration number:
- Check the number format. Real NAFDAC registration numbers follow specific prefix patterns: A4- for imported drugs, B4- for biologics, 04- for locally manufactured drugs, and C4- for cosmetics. A number that doesn't start with a recognised prefix is immediately suspicious.
- Verify it against the product. Counterfeiters often copy a valid NAFDAC number from a real product and print it on a fake one. When you look up the number (using the checker above or on the NAFDAC Greenbook (opens in new tab)), check that the product name, manufacturer, and strength all match what's on the packaging. If they don't match, the product is likely counterfeit.
- Look for missing numbers. Every pharmaceutical product legally sold in Nigeria must carry a NAFDAC registration number. If a drug has no NAFDAC number on its packaging at all, it is illegal and should not be purchased.
- Check for the MAS scratch panel. For high-risk drug categories (especially antimalarials and some antibiotics), NAFDAC requires a Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) scratch panel on the packaging. Scratch the panel and send the PIN via SMS to verify the product. If the panel is missing on a product that should have one, treat it as a red flag.
- Inspect the packaging quality. Fake products often have blurry printing, spelling errors, misaligned text, or colours that look slightly off compared to the genuine product. If the packaging looks poor quality, the NAFDAC number printed on it may also be fake.
Genuine example
04-5808
Starts with a recognised prefix (04-). Matches the product name (Arinate), manufacturer (Meditab), and strength on the NAFDAC Greenbook.
Suspicious example
XX-9999
Uses an unrecognised prefix (XX-). Does not appear in the NAFDAC Greenbook. Could also be a real number copied onto the wrong product.
Want to learn more?
Read our detailed guides on how to verify NAFDAC registration step by step and how to spot fake drugs in Nigeria.
About NAFDAC Registration
NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) is the Nigerian government agency responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water in Nigeria.
A valid NAFDAC registration number means the product has been evaluated for safety, efficacy, and quality. Always buy drugs with valid NAFDAC numbers from licensed pharmacies.