The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed off no fewer than 486 pharmaceutical outlets in Niger State after uncovering widespread breaches of professional and regulatory standards.
The Head of Enforcement at PCN headquarters, Dr. Suleiman Ciroma, disclosed this on Friday while addressing journalists at the council’s North Central Zonal Office in Minna. The action, he said, followed an intensive inspection exercise across nine local government areas of the state.
According to him, the affected premises include 69 pharmacies, 127 patent medicine shops, and 290 unlicensed outlets. One individual was also arrested for allegedly obstructing inspectors during the operation and will face prosecution.
In total, 672 premises were inspected, covering 136 pharmacies and 536 patent medicine shops across Agaie, Bida, Tafa, Chanchaga, Lapai, Paikoro, Bosso, Suleja, and Gurara local government areas.
Dr. Ciroma explained that the enforcement drive was aimed at enforcing compliance with professional ethics, proper staffing, facility standards, and pharmaceutical practice guidelines to protect the public from unsafe drugs and services.
“The inspection revealed a troubling trend of unlicensed operations, unauthorised clinical practices, sale of controlled substances, and even unapproved training of apprentices,” he noted.
He advised Nigerians to patronise only licensed pharmacies and medicine shops, stressing that such premises could easily be identified through the display of valid and current licences.
The PCN enforcement boss praised Niger residents for their cooperation, adding that the nationwide exercise would go a long way in curbing the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines in the country.
