Over the past few months, hand sanitizers have been among the most in-demand products in Nigeria and all over the world. The importance of hand sanitizers has further been highlighted by global unrest as a result of the ongoing pandemic. Hand sanitizers were at some point out of demand in the country. This further instigated many companies to dive into the productions of various types of hand sanitizers.

In this post, we will take a look at the prices of some of the common hand sanitizers available for purchase in the country today.

Hand sanitizer prices in Nigeria

Hand sanitizers come in different types and sizes. With the sudden surge in the demand for hand sanitizers over the past few months, many brands have launched different models and types of hand sanitizers to meet the current demand. The list below highlights some of the common hand sanitizer brands and how much their products go for.

Archy Hand Sanitizer

• ARCHY’S Hand Sanitizer Gel, Hand Disinfection Gel 500 ml – N2, 300 – N2, 600
• ARCHY’S Hand Sanitizer Gel, Hand Disinfection Gel 500 ml – N4, 700 – N4, 900

Emzor Hand Sanitizer

• Emzor Sterilink Hand Sanitizer 500 ml – N2, 500 – N2, 700
• Emzor Sterilink Hand Sanitizer 1 Liter – N3, 000 – N3, 300
• Emzor Sterilink Hand Sanitizer 4 Liter – N8, 400 – N8, 700

BTL Hand Sanitizer

• BTL Hand Sanitizer Gel, Hand Disinfection Gel 500 ml – N2, 000 – N2, 200
• BTL Hand Sanitizer Gel, Hand Disinfection Gel 500 ml – N3, 400 – N4, 000

DEEP ACTION Hand Sanitizer

• DEEP ACTION Instant Hand Sanitizer 100 ml – N1, 500 – N1, 700
• DEEP ACTION Instant Hand Sanitizer 500 ml – N3, 700 – N4, 000
• DEEP ACTION Instant Hand Sanitizer 4 liters – N16, 000 – N18, 000

Delight Hand Sanitizer

• Delight Instant Hand Sanitizer 500 ml – N2, 000 – N2, 400
• Delight Instant Hand Sanitizer 4 Liters – N10, 000 – N11, 000
• Delight Instant Hand Sanitizer 4 Liters – N13, 000 – N13, 500

Septol Hand Sanitizer

• Septol Hand Sanitizer (Alcohol-based) 500 ml (2 in 1) – N5, 000 – 6, 000

Duwells Hand Sanitizer

• Duwells Hand Sanitizer 100 ml – N500 – N700
• Duwells Hand Sanitizer 500 ml – N1, 300 – N1, 500

Most of the hand sanitizers as highlighted above are locally produced and the variation in price is a result of the place and quantity of purchase. For instance, the prices tend to go lower when you buy the hand sanitizers in packs.

What you should know about hand sanitizers 

Hand sanitizers are hand antiseptic applied to the hands mainly to remove common disease-causing organisms, referred to as pathogens. Hand sanitizers come in different forms. Usually, they can come as foam, gel, or even liquid. The most common in the current market is the gel and liquid hand sanitizers. Hand sanitizers are seen as a reasonable alternative when soap and water are not available to wash the hand. They are usually used as a means of infection control in various settings. The current global pandemic has further exposed people to the importance of hand sanitizers, as it is seen as one of the effective ways of preventing the fast-rising coronavirus.

There are two main types of hand sanitizers, based on the ingredients used – the alcohol-based sanitizer and the alcohol-free sanitizer. The alcohol-based hand sanitizers contain between 60% and 95% alcohol, which usually is in the form of ethanol, n-propanol or isopropanol, depending on the hand sanitizer. At those alcohol-concentrated percentages, the hand sanitizer denatures proteins, which in turn effect neutralize some types of microorganisms. The other type of sanitizer, the alcohol-free sanitizers are mainly based on disinfectants, which include the likes of antimicrobial agents and benzalkonium chloride. While the activities of disinfectants are considered immediate and persistent, alcohol-based sanitizers are generally more effective. Some hand sanitizers also have emollients like glycerin, which soothe the skin and fragrance.

Hand Sanitizers: Safety concerns 

World Health Organization and various Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have advised the use of alcohol-based sanitizers over alcohol-free sanitizers. The overall use of alcohol-free sanitizers has been vastly limited, chiefly because most health agencies are also not comfortable with the chemical contents of the alcohol-free sanitizers. The main contents of alcohol-free sanitizers – the disinfectants and antimicrobials – have been said to potentially contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance.

What to consider when picking a hand sanitizer 

Consider the Percentage of Alcohol – If you are looking to purchase a hand sanitizer to protect yourself from infections, then it is always advisable you go for one that is alcohol-based. To neutralize most infection-causing germs, it is essential to go for a hand sanitizer that has a minimum of 60 percent alcohol, as anything less than this may not be as effective for many germs. Hand sanitizers with less than 60 percent could only reduce the rate of growth of such germs and might not be effective enough to kill them. Hence, it essential to know the difference between alcohol-based and alcohol-free hand sanitizers. These are usually highlighted on the packs on these sanitizers and you can expect the alcohol percent level to be highlighted.

Consider the Brand – The sudden upsurge in the demand of hand sanitizers instigated a lot of brands to go into producing various types and class of hand sanitizers, some of which are not even approved. Hence, it is important to note the brand you are going for. Make enquires about the brand before you purchase one.