Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In a significant enforcement action aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s pharmaceutical regulatory framework, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed more than 130 drug dispensing outlets across Nasarawa State for violating established standards governing the operation of pharmaceutical facilities. The announcement, confirmed by PCN officials on Thursday, reflects a broader effort by the federal regulator to guard public health and ensure that medicines dispensed to consumers meet safety and quality benchmarks.
The enforcement operation, which took place over a three‑day period from March 30 to April 1, 2026, involved a systematic inspection of hundreds of premises across multiple local government areas in Nasarawa. PCN teams inspected a total of 272 facilities, including 35 wholesalers, 86 community pharmacies, 118 patent medicine stores, and 32 unlicensed outlets, uncovering widespread non‑compliance with regulatory standards. Following the exercise, PCN announced the sealing of approximately 130 premises for a range of serious breaches.
Dr Suleiman Chiroma, Head of Enforcement for the Council, addressed journalists during a press briefing in Karu Local Government Area, describing the enforcement as part of the PCN’s mandate under the National Drugs Distribution Guidelines (NDDG) and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act of 2022 to ensure that pharmaceutical services are provided by qualified personnel in properly licensed facilities. He noted that many outlets were found to be operating in direct contravention of the law, posing risks to patient safety and undermining the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Among the regulatory infractions cited by PCN inspectors were the operation of unlicensed premises, failure to produce valid licences or evidence of registration when requested, unauthorised access to poison cupboards, and engaging in clinical practices beyond the scope permitted for the type of facility. These breaches not only violate statutory requirements but also compromise the safe handling, storage, and dispensing of drugs to the public, PCN officials said.
Dr Chiroma highlighted that the 130 sealed outlets encompassed various categories of pharmaceutical operations, including wholesalers, community pharmacies, and patent medicine vendors, as well as all 32 previously unlicensed facilities identified during the inspection sweep. The enforcement also resulted in the issuance of seven compliance directives to facilities with correctable deficiencies and the arrest of one pharmacist for obstructing PCN inspectors in the exercise of their duties.
Alarmingly, findings from the operation revealed that many registered community pharmacies were functioning without a resident or present pharmacist at the time of inspection. PCN reported that up to 70 percent of community pharmacies inspected lacked a pharmacist on site, with operations left in the hands of untrained attendants. Such practices contravene basic regulatory requirements and raise concerns about the quality and safety of pharmaceutical care being provided. Additionally, 61 percent of community pharmacies failed to display valid licences as required by law, further muddying compliance oversight and accountability.
The seizures in Nasarawa form part of a broader pattern of intensified enforcement by the PCN in recent years, aimed at sanitising the nation’s pharmaceutical landscape. According to recent reports, the council has sealed thousands of illegal and non‑compliant drug outlets across multiple states over the past two years, underscoring a sustained nationwide effort to curb unregulated medicine sales and quackery.
The PCN’s actions are part of its broader mandate as the federal regulator responsible for overseeing all aspects of pharmacy education, training, and practice in Nigeria, including the licencing of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and patent and proprietary medicine vendors (PPMVs). The agency, established under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act 2022, also deploys inspectors to monitor pharmaceutical premises and enforce compliance with professional and safety standards.
Public health analysts welcomed the Nasarawa enforcement operation, describing it as a necessary corrective to entrenched regulatory breaches that have long characterized Nigeria’s informal drug market. Many community pharmacies and drug vendors operate without proper oversight, often selling prescription‑only medications or failing to maintain appropriate storage conditions, which can lead to treatment failures, antimicrobial resistance, and other adverse health outcomes.
However, the closures have also triggered concerns among some residents and local healthcare advocates, who noted that the sudden shutdown of so many outlets could disrupt access to essential medicines, particularly in underserved or rural areas. Community members expressed fears that patients may have to travel longer distances or incur higher costs to obtain necessary drugs from compliant facilities. In response, PCN officials urged patience and emphasised that the enforcement is intended to protect patients by ensuring that medicines are supplied only through safe and regulated channels.
PCN also stressed the importance of public vigilance in identifying compliant pharmacies, urging patients to patronise only those facilities with clearly displayed licences and qualified professionals present. The regulator further highlighted plans for ongoing inspections and community education campaigns aimed at increasing awareness about safe pharmaceutical practices and reducing the prevalence of unregulated drug sales.
Nasarawa State health authorities expressed support for the PCN’s enforcement drive, noting that eliminating unlicensed and substandard drug outlets aligns with broader public health objectives, including improved treatment outcomes and safer access to healthcare services. Government officials reiterated their commitment to collaborating with regulatory agencies to ensure that pharmacies and medicine vendors operate within established legal frameworks and uphold quality standards.
As Nigeria continues to confront systemic challenges in its healthcare delivery systems, the PCN’s actions in Nasarawa represent a tangible effort to enforce regulatory discipline and enhance the safety of pharmaceutical services. Stakeholders have emphasised that sustained enforcement, combined with public education and support for compliant operators, will be critical to reducing the circulation of substandard, falsified, or improperly handled medications and protecting the health and wellbeing of citizens nationwide.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments