- Kiat said production and logistics expenses had risen sharply since the crisis escalated
- Nigeria currently faces a major gap in condom accessibility despite growing concerns over sexually transmitted infections
- He stressed that condoms remain one of the simplest and most effective public health tools for disease prevention
Concerns are mounting within Nigeria’s health sector over a possible rise in condom prices and supply shortages as tensions in the Middle East continue to disrupt global trade and oil-related supply chains.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that experts in the pharmaceutical industry said the prolonged conflict involving the United States and Iran has begun affecting the availability and cost of key materials used in condom manufacturing, creating fears of higher prices in countries that rely heavily on imports, including Nigeria.
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They explained that many of the components used in producing condoms, such as synthetic rubber, ammonia and silicone lubricants, are linked to petrochemical products whose costs have surged amid rising crude oil prices and shipping disruptions.
The warning followed reports that Karex, the world’s largest condom producer, may review its prices upward by as much as 30 per cent if supply difficulties continue.
The Malaysia-based company manufactures condoms for major international brands including Durex and Trojan.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Karex Chief Executive Officer Goh Miah Kiat said production and logistics expenses had risen sharply since the crisis escalated, while demand for condoms globally had also increased this year.
Health stakeholders in Nigeria warned that any reduction in supply from major manufacturers could affect both premium and low-cost brands available in the local market.
The National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Ambrose Ezeh, noted that scarcity of imported products would likely trigger increased demand for cheaper alternatives, eventually pushing prices up across board.
He said disruptions in shipping and manufacturing would inevitably reduce supply, adding that consumers may struggle to access products if the situation worsens.
Nigeria currently faces a major gap in condom accessibility despite growing concerns over sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies.
Data from a 2021 report by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS and NOI Polls showed that the country consumes about 587 million condoms annually, far below the estimated 1.15 billion needed to achieve adequate national coverage.
Former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Olumide Akintayo, warned that rising prices or shortages could increase cases of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, as well as unplanned pregnancies.
He stressed that condoms remain one of the simplest and most effective public health tools for disease prevention and family planning.
Akintayo added that if prices become unaffordable for many Nigerians, more people may resort to unprotected sex, worsening public health challenges and increasing pressure on the healthcare system.
Also speaking, former Vice Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria in Ogun State, Dr Olumide Obube, said the country’s dependence on imported condoms and donor-supported supplies leaves it vulnerable to global economic and political disruptions.
He urged authorities to encourage local production as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare security and reduce dependence on imports.
The World Health Organization has repeatedly maintained that proper and consistent condom use remains one of the most effective ways to prevent sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies.
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