The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 383 pharmaceutical facilities in Ogun State due to regulatory failures, such as inadequate medicine storage, operating without current licenses, and running unauthorized drug stores.
This enforcement operation spanned 11 local government areas and was conducted to refine the nation’s drug distribution network. Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, leader of the PCN Enforcement Department, announced in Abeokuta that the team inspected 738 facilities. This figure included 277 pharmacies, 288 Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor (PPMV) stores, and 173 unregistered locations.
Dr. Chiroma noted that 383 locations were shut down, comprising 123 pharmacies, 87 PPMV stores, and every one of the 173 illegal sites. Three additional operators received warnings for minor issues. The operation followed mandates from Registrar Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, adhering to the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act of 2022.
The initiative seeks to uphold the National Drug Distribution Guidelines, which aim to remove informal drug markets. Dr. Chiroma stressed that the law requires all pharmaceutical businesses to hold valid, council-issued licenses. He warned that unauthorized outlets facilitate the entry of substandard and counterfeit drugs into the market.
Inspections occurred across regions including Abeokuta South, Odeda, Ifo, Sagamu, and Ado-Odo/Ota. Findings revealed that 23 percent of inspected sites operated illegally, mostly situated outside major urban centers, highlighting a gap in rural oversight. Furthermore, inspectors discovered hazardous behaviors such as cooking within pharmacies, restricted access to controlled substances, and the improper training of apprentices.
