The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 572 pharmaceutical premises across Plateau State following a statewide enforcement operation that uncovered widespread violations of drug distribution and practice regulations.
The four-day exercise, conducted in several local government areas, targeted pharmacies, patent and proprietary medicine vendor (PPMV) shops, and illegally operated drug outlets.
Speaking at a press briefing in Jos on Friday, the Head of Enforcement of the Council, Dr Suleiman Chiroma, said the operation was carried out under the powers granted to the Council by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Establishment Act, 2022. He represented the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Pharm Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed.
According to Chiroma, the enforcement drive forms part of ongoing efforts to implement the National Drug Distribution Guidelines aimed at sanitising Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain and ensuring medicines reach consumers through approved channels.
He noted that the exercise covered Jos North, Jos South, Mangu, Shendam, Barkin Ladi, Bassa and Qua’an Pan local government areas, where a total of 778 premises were inspected. The facilities comprised 199 pharmacies, 499 patent medicine stores and 80 illegal outlets.
At the end of the operation, 572 establishments were sealed, including 120 pharmacies, 372 patent medicine stores and all 80 illegal outlets. The Council also issued five compliance directives to operators found wanting.
Chiroma expressed concern over the level of non-compliance discovered, revealing that about 60 per cent of the pharmacies inspected failed to meet regulatory requirements.
Among the violations identified were the preparation of food within drug outlets, unauthorised clinical services, illegal storage and dispensing of medicines, improper access to controlled substances by non-pharmacists, and the operation of unregistered pharmaceutical premises.
He warned that such practices could endanger public health and national security by facilitating the misuse and diversion of controlled medicines to criminal groups.
Additional offences recorded during the exercise included failure to present valid licences, operating without proper registration and obstructing pharmaceutical inspectors in the course of their duties.
Despite the large number of closures, Chiroma stated that only about 10 per cent of the inspected facilities were operating completely outside the law, indicating a relatively low presence of illegal premises in the state. However, he noted that compliance levels among licensed pharmacies remained unsatisfactory, with many operating with incomplete registration documentation.
Reaffirming the Council’s commitment to maintaining standards in pharmaceutical practice, the PCN said it would continue to strengthen monitoring and enforcement activities to ensure Nigerians have access to safe and quality medicines dispensed by qualified professionals.
The Council also appreciated residents of Plateau State for supporting the enforcement team throughout the exercise and urged members of the public to obtain medicines only from duly licensed outlets displaying valid PCN permits.
PCN Shuts 572 Drug Outlets in Plateau Over Multiple Regulatory Breaches
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