Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Closes 598 Facilities in Kaduna for Regulatory Violations

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has shut down 598 pharmacies and patent medicine shops throughout Kaduna State.

This enforcement action aims to prevent the illegal distribution of drugs and protect the well-being of the public.

Suleiman S. Chiroma, the National Head of Enforcement, announced the results on Friday following a four-day operation. Authorities inspected 828 premises in areas such as Zaria, Giwa, Igabi, and both North and South Kaduna. Among the sealed businesses were 68 registered pharmacies, 456 patent medicine stores, and 74 unlicensed operations.

Chiroma highlighted that many of the penalized shops were distributing prescription drugs without permission, maintained substandard storage facilities, or performed clinical tasks without authorization.

Two suspects were taken into custody during the operation, and several other operators received formal compliance warnings.

This initiative falls under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act, which enforces national drug distribution protocols designed to maintain the quality and safety of medications. While the crackdown was significant, officials reported signs of improvement.

Nearly half of the pharmacies inspected were in full compliance, as were 28 per cent of patent medicine vendors. Only nine per cent of the total visited sites were operating entirely without a license.

The operation reflects the health reforms promoted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, both of whom have stressed the importance of rigorous regulatory oversight.

The Council plans to maintain its nationwide efforts to remove falsified and substandard drugs from the market and advises citizens to purchase medications exclusively from verified, licensed outlets.