The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 486 medicine premises in Niger State for multiple regulatory violations, including operating without licenses, engaging unqualified personnel, and the unauthorized sale of controlled drugs.
The Head of Enforcement at the PCN headquarters, Suleiman Ciroma, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists at the North Central Zonal Office in Minna, following a week-long enforcement exercise.
According to him, the affected premises comprise 69 pharmacies, 127 patent medicine shops, and 290 unlicensed outlets. He also confirmed that one individual was arrested for obstructing inspectors and will face prosecution.
“In total, 672 premises comprising 136 pharmacies and 536 patent medicine stores were inspected across nine local government areas—Agaie, Bida, Tafa, Chanchaga, Lapai, Paikoro, Bosso, Suleja, and Gurara,” Ciroma said.
He explained that the operation focused on assessing premises, personnel, and pharmaceutical practices to ensure compliance with professional ethics and minimum standards that guarantee safe and quality service delivery.
The enforcement team uncovered infractions such as unlicensed facilities, non-compliance with regulatory guidelines, unauthorized clinical practices, sales of controlled medicines, and illegal training of apprentices.
Ciroma stressed that licensed pharmacies and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) can be identified by the visible display of valid licenses, urging the public to verify this as a safeguard against quackery.
He added that the nationwide enforcement exercise is part of efforts to sanitize the pharmaceutical sector, protect public health, and reduce the circulation of substandard and falsified medical products.
While commending residents for their cooperation, Ciroma assured that the PCN will sustain efforts to eliminate unqualified practitioners and illegal premises across the country.
