…warns against illegal medicine sales

By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 383 pharmaceutical premises across Ogun State for various regulatory violations, including operating without valid licences, poor storage of medicines and running illegal drug outlets, as part of a statewide enforcement exercise, aimed at sanitising the nation’s drug distribution system.

The enforcement operation, conducted across 11 local government areas in Ogun State, saw inspectors visit 738 pharmaceutical premises, comprising 277 pharmacies, 288 Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor (PPMV) stores, and 173 illegal or unregistered outlets.

Presenting the outcome of the exercise at a press conference on Friday in Abeokuta, the Head of Enforcement Department of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, said the exercise was carried out on the directive of the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, in line with the Council’s statutory mandate under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2022.

According to him, 383 premises were sealed, including 123 pharmacies, 87 Patent Medicine Stores and all 173 illegal outlets, while three compliance directives were issued to operators found to have committed lesser regulatory infractions.

Chiroma said the exercise was designed to enforce compliance with the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG), which seek to eliminate the menace of open drug markets and establish an organised and regulated drug distribution system across the country.

He said, “the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria is statutorily mandated to regulate and control the practice of pharmacy in all its aspects, including the registration and licensing of pharmaceutical premises. No pharmaceutical premises is permitted to operate without registration and a valid licence issued by the Council”.

He explained that the National Drug Distribution Guidelines permit the distribution of medicines only through duly licensed manufacturers, importers, Coordinated Wholesale Centres, Mega Drug Distribution Centres, State Drug Distribution Centres, wholesalers, retail pharmacies and licensed Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors.

According to him, illegal medicine outlets undermine this framework by creating channels through which substandard, falsified and diverted medicines find their way into the hands of unsuspecting Nigerians.

“Illegal premises, operating under any guise, constitute a direct affront to the country’s drug regulatory framework. Their activities create conduits through which substandard, falsified and diverted medicines gain access to the public, thereby undermining the objectives of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines,” Chiroma stated.

The enforcement exercise covered Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Odeda, Obafemi-Owode, Ifo, Ado-Odo/Ota, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Ikenne, Ijebu North-East and Ewekoro Local Government Areas.

Providing a breakdown of the findings, Chiroma disclosed that 23 per cent of all premises inspected were operating illegally, with the majority of such facilities located outside Abeokuta metropolis.

He noted that the trend underscores the need for stronger regulatory presence in rural communities.

“Illegal premises accounted for 45 per cent of all facilities sealed during the operation. Among licensed operators, only 56 per cent of pharmacies inspected were fully compliant with regulatory standards, indicating the need for enhanced monitoring and enforcement. In contrast, 70 per cent of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor outlets complied with regulatory requirements,” he said.

He added that, in accordance with the law, every illegal premise identified during the operation was sealed.

The enforcement team identified several regulatory violations, including operating without valid PCN licences, poor storage conditions for medicines, unauthorised access to controlled medicines, obstruction of inspectors, cooking within pharmaceutical premises and the illegal training of apprentices.

Chiroma warned that such practices pose serious dangers to public health and national security.

“Improper storage of medicines and dispensing by untrained individuals contribute directly to treatment failure, antimicrobial resistance and avoidable deaths. These practices also increase healthcare costs and weaken public confidence in the health system,” he said.

He further warned that uncontrolled access to regulated medicines could facilitate their diversion into criminal networks.

Reaffirming the Council’s commitment to strengthening regulation within Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector, Chiroma said the PCN would sustain rigorous inspections and enforcement nationwide.

“All premises engaged in the handling, storage and dispensing of medicines will continue to undergo stringent regulatory scrutiny. Violations of extant regulations will attract prompt and firm enforcement measures by the Council,” he declared.

The Council also urged Nigerians to purchase medicines only from pharmaceutical premises licensed by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, noting that genuine facilities display valid and current PCN licences prominently.