NAFDAC has issued a nationwide alert about a counterfeit antibiotic called _BETACLOX_ (ampicillin 250 mg + cloxacillin 250 mg) that has entered the domestic drug supply.
The spurious product is falsely labeled with the registration number A4‑4724, which actually belongs to mebendazole 500 mg, and lists an incorrect address for the importer, Freeview Pharmaceutical Ltd. The batch in question (Batch No. 230701) was manufactured in July 2023 and expires in July 2026, and it originated from an unverified source, posing a serious public‑health risk.
Investigations traced the fake medicine to Gambori Market in Maiduguri, where a Kano‑based distributor purchased it and later supplied it to a retail outlet in Zaria, Kaduna State. In response, NAFDAC has directed all zonal directors and state coordinators to increase surveillance, seize the product, and remove it from circulation across the country.
The agency urges health‑care professionals, distributors, and consumers to obtain medicines only from authorized suppliers, verify packaging details, and report any suspicious items to NAFDAC’s toll‑free line 0800‑162‑3322 or via email sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng. Using substandard or falsified antibiotics can lead to treatment failure, contribute to antimicrobial resistance, and cause severe health complications, making vigilance essential.
