Nigeria's online medicine market is full of confident-looking storefronts that are not pharmacies at all. Use this seven-point check before you send a single naira.
1. PCN premises licence
Every legitimate pharmacy operates under a Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) premises licence and a registered superintendent pharmacist. Ask for the premises number; a real vendor answers in seconds.
2. NAFDAC registration on the product
The drug itself must carry a NAFDAC registration number that you can cross-check against the NAFDAC Greenbook. No number, no purchase.
3. A physical address you can verify
Drop the address into Google Maps Street View. Ghost vendors fail this in two clicks.
4. Payment that is not a personal account
If the only payment option is a personal bank account or a personal Opay/PalmPay handle, walk away. Use escrow, not trust.
5. Prescription is requested for POMs
Prescription-only medicines (antibiotics, controlled drugs, insulin) require a prescription. Vendors who skip this step are skipping the law.
6. Real reviews, not screenshots
Screenshots of testimonials in a status update are not reviews. Look for verifiable, dated reviews on independent platforms.
7. Delivery confirmation before funds release
On MedOasis, the vendor only gets paid after you confirm delivery. If your seller insists on full upfront payment with no escrow, the risk is entirely yours.