A fake batch of a widely used antibiotic has sparked a health scare in Enugu State, with the state’s top health official warning the counterfeits may already be on pharmacy shelves and in patients’ homes.
Professor George Ugwu, the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, issued the warning on Thursday in a statement released through the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Chidiogo Ugodu, alerting residents to the circulation of counterfeit Augmentin 625 mg tablets, a combination antibiotic of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid commonly prescribed to treat bacterial infections.
What makes this counterfeit operation particularly dangerous, according to the commissioner, is its sophistication. The fake tablets carry the same batch number, AC3N, as a genuine batch of Augmentin manufactured by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a tactic investigators believe was deliberately chosen to help the counterfeits blend in with authentic stock already in circulation and evade routine checks.
The counterfeit packs are stamped with a manufacturing date of September 2025 and an expiry date of 2028, dates that don’t add up. GSK has confirmed that the genuine Batch AC3N was actually produced at its Worthing facility in the United Kingdom in August 2023 and packaged later that September, meaning no authentic version of that batch was ever manufactured in 2025.
Beyond the date discrepancy, Ugwu said the fake tablets also show telltale physical flaws: irregular tablet texture and shoddy packaging seals that fall short of the quality finish expected from genuine GSK products.
The Enugu alert echoes a broader warning issued nationally by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which had already flagged the same counterfeit batch in a public alert.
The drug regulator said the falsified medicine surfaced after GSK’s local representative received a string of complaints about suspicious Augmentin tablets appearing in the market, prompting GSK to investigate using photographic and video evidence shared online before confirming the product as fake.
Officials have warned that taking fake Augmentin can lead to treatment failure, worsening bacterial infections, the development of antimicrobial resistance, and adverse reactions from unknown or harmful ingredients, risks that fall hardest on patients who unknowingly rely on the drug to fight serious infections. NAFDAC has since directed its zonal directors and state coordinators nationwide to step up surveillance and pull the counterfeit stock from circulation.
For now, the Enugu State Ministry of Health is leaning on public vigilance as a first line of defense. In its statement, the ministry urged residents to buy medicines strictly from licensed pharmacies and accredited health facilities, steering clear of informal drug hawkers and unregistered outlets that are often the easiest entry points for counterfeit products into local markets.
Healthcare providers and members of the public alike have been advised to scrutinize every pack of Augmentin 625 mg before use, checking batch numbers, manufacturing and expiry dates, and the quality of the packaging seal.
Anyone who comes across a suspicious pack or suspects a pharmacy or vendor is stocking the counterfeit product has been asked to report it immediately to the nearest health authority or directly to the Enugu State Ministry of Health.
“Together, let us protect our communities from the dangers of counterfeit medicines,” the ministry said in its statement, framing the fight against fake drugs as a shared responsibility between regulators, healthcare workers, and the public.
Health officials say the clearest red flags on suspect packs include:
- Batch Number AC3N paired with a manufacturing date of September 2025 and an expiry date of 2028
- Visible texture irregularities on the tablets themselves
- Poor-quality packaging seals that look or feel different from standard GSK finishing
As investigations continue, authorities in Enugu and at the national level say surveillance of pharmacies, open drug markets, and patent medicine stores will be intensified in the coming weeks to trace and remove the counterfeit stock before it reaches more patients.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Counterfeit Augmentin 625 mg tablets bearing batch number AC3N are circulating in Nigeria, including possibly in Enugu State.
These fakes copy a real batch number to look genuine but give themselves away with mismatched manufacturing/expiry dates (September 2025/2028) and poor tablet and packaging quality.
Always buy from licensed pharmacies, inspect your Augmentin before use, and report any suspicious packs to NAFDAC or the Enugu State Ministry of Health. Your vigilance is the best defense against this counterfeit batch.
