The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has banned a counterfeit and unregistered batch of Tarivid (Ofloxacin 200mg)—a popular antibacterial medication—after it was found circulating within Nigeria’s healthcare system.

 

In a public alert numbered 21/2025, released on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, and titled “Alert on the Report of Unregistered Tarivid (Ofloxacin 200mg) found in Nigeria”, the agency revealed that the product was discovered during routine market surveillance in the Onipan area of Shomolu LGA, Lagos State.

 

The affected batch, labeled as manufactured by global pharmaceutical giant Sanofi, carries the manufacturing date of September 2023 and expiry date of August 2028, with a NAFDAC registration number (NRN) of AL016. However, investigations confirmed that this batch was never approved for the Nigerian market.

 

According to NAFDAC, Sanofi’s Anti-Falsified and Illicit Trafficking (AFIT) Central Lab and its Nigerian representative clarified that the identified batch was originally produced for distribution in Pakistan, not Nigeria. As a result, the product falls outside the regulatory framework for medicines approved in the country, making its safety and effectiveness unverified.

 

Tarivid is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat a range of infections, including those affecting the respiratory and urinary tracts, kidneys, skin, and soft tissues.

 

NAFDAC has now uploaded the alert to the World Health Organization’s Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS) to aid global tracking and response efforts.

 

The agency has instructed its zonal directors and state coordinators to intensify surveillance and conduct a nationwide mop-up operation to eliminate the fake batch from circulation.

 

It also urged distributors, pharmacists, retailers, and caregivers to remain vigilant, ensure medicines are sourced from licensed suppliers, and verify product authenticity.

 

NAFDAC warned that the sale and use of unregistered medical products present serious health risks, and it encouraged healthcare professionals and the public to report any suspicious or substandard medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office or through the agency’s online e-reporting platform.