Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 724 pharmaceutical and patent medicine facilities across Kwara State following a four-day enforcement exercise, shutting down 68 pharmacies, 542 patent medicine stores and all 114 illegal outlets identified during the operation, while warning members of the public against patronising unlicensed medicine outlets.
The Registrar of the Council, Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, disclosed the outcome of the enforcement exercise during a press briefing in Ilorin on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Represented by Dr Suleiman Chiroma, the registrar said the operation covered 10 local government areas: Ilorin South, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Asa, Offa, Ifelodun, Oyun, Moro, Irepodun and Edu.
According to the PCN, a total of 1,238 premises were inspected during the exercise, comprising 167 pharmacies, 957 patent medicine stores and 114 illegal outlets. Of these, 724 premises were sealed, including 68 pharmacies, 542 patent medicine stores and all 114 illegal outlets, while 11 compliance directives were issued.
The registrar noted that only 9 per cent of inspected premises were found to be operating illegally, describing it as a relatively low rate that reflects improved regulatory compliance in the state. He added that 59.2 per cent of pharmacies inspected were fully compliant with regulatory standards, compared to 43 per cent of patent medicine vendors.
Ahmed explained that breaches uncovered during the exercise included operating without valid PCN licences, poor storage conditions, unauthorised handling of controlled medicines, training of apprentices in patent medicine shops, and cooking in such premises. He warned that such practices could lead to treatment failures, antimicrobial resistance, diversion of controlled drugs to criminal networks and other security risks.
He urged Nigerians to ensure they obtain medicines only from duly licensed premises, stressing that valid PCN licences must be visibly displayed for verification. “When medicines are dispensed by untrained persons or stored in unsuitable conditions, treatment failures, antimicrobial resistance and avoidable deaths increase,” he warned.
The registrar reaffirmed the council’s commitment to strengthening regulation of pharmaceutical practice and supporting the Federal Government’s Universal Health Coverage agenda, noting that safe and quality-assured medicines remain critical to effective healthcare delivery. “UHC is unattainable without access to safe, effective, quality-assured and affordable medicines,” he said.
The PCN warned that any breach of established regulations would be met with decisive enforcement action by the council. Members of the public were advised to verify the validity of PCN licences prominently displayed in licensed premises before purchasing medicines.
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