₦airaland Forum

Nigeria may soon face a sharp rise in condom prices and possible shortages if the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran continues disrupting global oil and shipping supply chains, health experts have warned.

At first glance, many Nigerians may wonder:
“What does war in the Middle East have to do with condoms in Nigeria?”

The answer is global manufacturing.

Condom production depends heavily on petrochemical based materials including synthetic rubber, ammonia and silicone lubricants, many of which are tied directly to oil markets and international shipping routes currently under pressure from the US-Iran crisis.

The warning became more serious after Karex, the world’s largest condom manufacturer and a major supplier for brands like Durex and Trojan, announced plans to increase prices by up to 30 percent or more if disruptions continue.

According to Karex CEO Goh Miah Kiat, freight costs, raw material prices and shipping delays have all risen sharply since the conflict escalated. The company reportedly produces over five billion condoms yearly.

Healthcare stakeholders in Nigeria say the effects could quickly spill into the local market because Nigeria still relies heavily on imported condoms.

National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Ambrose Ezeh, warned that scarcity of premium brands could shift demand toward cheaper alternatives commonly used by average Nigerians, forcing prices up across the board.

Former Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria President Olumide Akintayo also warned that condom shortages or unaffordable prices could worsen HIV transmission, sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies.

The concern is especially serious because Nigeria already faces a major condom access gap.

A joint report by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, National Agency for the Control of AIDS and NOI Polls found that while Nigerians currently use about 587 million condoms yearly, the country actually needs around 1.15 billion annually to achieve effective national coverage.

That means Nigeria already has a deficit of more than 560 million condoms every year even before any global supply disruption.

Health experts now argue that local condom manufacturing should no longer be seen as just a private business opportunity, but a strategic national public health priority.

With Nigeria already battling HIV, rising STI rates, economic hardship and pressure on healthcare systems, many experts fear that prolonged supply disruptions could create a silent public health crisis with consequences far beyond pharmacies and supermarkets.

Alhajikd:
Thank God sef. E go make my diick to go retirement for sometime

Is God not wonderful? ;

Sonofgod1990:
So you people still nak with condoms?

Dat thing irritates me

Antoeni:
Update,Single Mothers in Delta state. Are Giving Young Boys infection. Ooo

Sonofgod1990:
Wahala for who still dey use condom

Me and condom are like cat 🐈 and 🐀 rat

I hate it aswear. No need of doing d do if you will use condom naa


Crystal Palace 2 vs arsenal 0

Dpsychologist:
Source: https://punchng.com/nigeria-risks-hike-in-condom-prices-over-escalating-us-iran-war/

marlow1962:
Don't you know that, when two neighbors are fighting over fence in USA, our own building materials will surge in price?

Anything that has to do with foreigners always affects Nigerians, but anything that has to do with Nigerians doesn't affects foreigners.

Yorubastardz:
who still uses condom in BIG 2026??