Nigeria’s drug regulatory agency has sounded a fresh alarm over the widespread circulation of fake Kiss Condoms across the country, warning that these substandard products endanger public health by failing to provide adequate protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The alert comes as counterfeiters continue to exploit one of the nation’s most trusted contraceptive brands, jeopardising sexual health initiatives that depend on reliable, quality products.
In Public Alert No. 042/2025 released on Monday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control disclosed that fake Kiss Condoms have been discovered in major commercial centres nationwide, including Onitsha Market and Idumota Market in Lagos, Trade Fair Market, and various locations in Kano, Abuja, Uyo, Gombe and Enugu. The alert followed reports from DKT International Nigeria, the brand’s marketing authorisation holder and a leading non-governmental organisation focused on contraceptive social marketing.
Kiss Condom is a widely recognised brand of male latex condoms designed to prevent unwanted pregnancy and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections including HIV, gonorrhoea and syphilis. Yet the circulation of counterfeit versions undermines this critical protective purpose, particularly in a nation where sexual health remains a significant public concern.
NAFDAC’s investigation revealed noticeable and systematic differences between genuine Kiss Condoms and their fake counterparts, beginning with packaging. According to the agency, the original condom boxes are light red in colour and carry detailed usage instructions, complete medical device information, proper storage guidelines and a verifiable manufacturer’s address located at 42 Montgomery Road, Yaba, Lagos. The genuine products also clearly display ISO standards and WHO/UNFPA specifications that assure their safety and effectiveness.
The counterfeit boxes, by contrast, are noticeably darker and often lack essential information entirely. Some fake boxes contain plain white interiors without condom images, incomplete or incorrect manufacturer addresses and missing caution or storage information that is standard on authentic products.
The individual condom packs themselves also differ significantly. Genuine Kiss condom packs display light red colouring with tightly arranged branding text, whilst fake packs are darker and show loosely spaced lettering. The counterfeit condom strips are also longer than the genuine product, a physical discrepancy that hints at the poor quality control standards in their production.
NAFDAC also identified differences in wallet packaging. Authentic Kiss Condom wallets carry detailed instructions, full medical device information, caution notes and traceable barcodes. The counterfeit versions often lack these details, contain fewer usage notes and show inconsistencies in barcode traceability that make them difficult to verify.
The physical condoms themselves reveal perhaps the most troubling difference. According to NAFDAC’s findings, fake condoms are noticeably thinner, less lubricated and have smaller teat ends compared to original products, which are larger, well-lubricated and properly shaped. These physical differences suggest substandard manufacturing processes that fundamentally compromise protection.
The implications of using counterfeit condoms extend far beyond individual consequences. According to the World Health Organisation, when used correctly and consistently, condoms are highly efficacious in preventing pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and HIV. Condoms are currently the only available multi-purpose prevention technology against these three health threats simultaneously.
Yet fake condoms pose severe public health risks that undermine these protective benefits. NAFDAC warned that counterfeit products may cause breakage, trigger infections, provoke allergic reactions and provide false protection against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. These risks stem from poor quality control, inadequate sterilisation and the complete absence of regulatory oversight.
The quality of materials used in counterfeit condoms directly affects their performance. Fake condoms are frequently manufactured from substandard latex or inferior materials that cannot withstand normal use. They are often produced in unhygienic conditions without proper testing, rendering them ineffective as barriers against bodily fluids that carry HIV and other pathogens.
In countries with high HIV infection rates such as Nigeria, condoms remain a crucial tool in preventing transmission. Research cited by international health organisations shows that consistent and correct condom use can prevent 98 per cent of unplanned pregnancies and significantly reduce the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. When fake condoms fail, users face the severe consequence of believing they are protected when they are not—a false sense of security that can have life-altering consequences.
This is not the first time NAFDAC has detected fake Kiss Condoms in Nigerian markets. In February 2025, during an enforcement operation at Idumota open drug market in Lagos State, the agency discovered a particularly disturbing operation. Officials seized expired USAID and UNFPA-donated condoms that had been repackaged into Kiss Condom boxes with expiration dates illegally extended from 2022 to 2027.
According to NAFDAC officials who documented the seizure at the time, counterfeiters were taking expired donated condoms and repackaging them with new dates—a practice that compounds the health risks by adding expired products to the supply chain. This revelation highlighted how organised the counterfeiting operation had become, with criminals willing to manipulate expiration dates to deceive consumers.
The persistence of counterfeit condoms in markets despite previous enforcement actions suggests that demand for cheap condoms—driven partly by cost sensitivity among lower-income consumers—creates a lucrative opportunity for criminal networks. Counterfeiters exploit the fact that consumers often purchase condoms quickly from unauthorised sellers without carefully examining authenticity, particularly in informal market settings.
NAFDAC has directed its zonal directors and state coordinators to conduct surveillance operations and remove counterfeit products from markets across the country. The agency has also uploaded the alert to the World Health Organisation’s Global Surveillance and Monitoring System, elevating this issue to international attention and awareness.
For consumers, the agency provided specific guidance. All medical products must be obtained exclusively from authorised and licensed suppliers. Before purchasing, consumers should carefully examine product authenticity and physical condition. The agency advised particular vigilance when buying from informal markets or unauthorised vendors, where counterfeit products are most likely to circulate.
Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses and counsellors involved in sexual health services, are advised to exercise caution and vigilance within supply chains to prevent distribution and sale of falsified products. Caregivers and community health workers should also be aware of these risks and educate their clients about authenticating products before use.
NAFDAC established multiple channels for reporting suspected counterfeit products. Members of the public, healthcare professionals and distributors can contact the nearest NAFDAC office, call the agency’s hotline at 0800-162-3322 or email sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng with information about suspected fake products or unethical sales practices.
The circulation of counterfeit condoms represents not merely a regulatory failure but a fundamental breach of public trust in one of the nation’s most essential health products. Counterfeiters, driven solely by profit, show callous disregard for the serious consequences of their actions—unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and potential HIV transmission that could have been prevented by quality products.
Manufacturers, distributors and retailers share a responsibility to maintain the integrity of the supply chain. When counterfeiters successfully flood markets with fake products, they exploit consumer vulnerability and undermine public health initiatives aimed at controlling HIV/AIDS and promoting safe family planning.
For consumers, the message is clear: when purchasing condoms, choose authorised retailers, verify packaging authenticity before buying and never purchase from suspicious vendors offering unusually cheap prices. The few naira saved by purchasing counterfeit condoms could prove extraordinarily costly in terms of health and wellbeing.
