The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 383 pharmaceutical premises across Ogun State after a four-day enforcement exercise conducted in 11 local government areas.
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‎The council’s Head of Enforcement, Suleiman Chiroma, announced the outcome on Friday in Abeokuta while briefing journalists on behalf of the PCN Registrar, Ibrahim Ahmed.
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‎According to him, the inspection covered Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Odeda, Obafemi-Owode, Ifo, Ado-Odo/Ota, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Ikenne, Ijebu North-East and Ewekoro local government areas.
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‎Chiroma said enforcement teams visited 738 premises, including 277 pharmacies, 288 patent medicine stores and 173 unregistered or illegal medicine outlets.
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‎He explained that 383 facilities were shut down for various regulatory violations, comprising 123 pharmacies, 87 patent medicine stores and all 173 illegal medicine outlets. In addition, three compliance directives were issued.
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‎He noted that the enforcement exercise supports the Federal Government’s Universal Health Coverage agenda by promoting access to safe, effective and affordable medicines.
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‎Chiroma warned that the sale of medicines by unqualified persons, alongside poor storage practices, contributes to treatment failure, antimicrobial resistance and preventable deaths.
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‎He revealed that 23 per cent of the inspected premises were operating illegally, with the majority located outside the Abeokuta metropolis, underscoring the need for stronger regulatory presence in rural communities.
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‎According to him, illegal medicine outlets accounted for 45 per cent of all premises sealed during the exercise, while only 56 per cent of licensed pharmacies fully complied with regulatory standards. He added that 70 per cent of inspected patent medicine stores met the required standards, while every illegal outlet identified was sealed.
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‎Among the major offences recorded were operating without valid PCN licences, poor storage of medicines, unauthorised handling of controlled medicines, obstruction of regulatory officials, and the illegal training of apprentices.
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‎Other violations included cooking within pharmaceutical premises, a practice Chiroma described as a serious public health risk that could encourage the diversion of controlled medicines into criminal hands.
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‎He said the council would continue rigorous monitoring and enforcement to strengthen compliance with pharmaceutical regulations and safeguard the country’s medicine distribution system.
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‎Chiroma advised Nigerians to buy medicines only from outlets licensed by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and to confirm the validity of such premises by checking for current PCN licences displayed at their locations.
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‎He stressed that all facilities involved in the storage, handling and dispensing of medicines would remain under continuous regulatory surveillance, warning that violations would attract swift enforcement action.
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‎The enforcement chief also reaffirmed the council’s commitment to ensuring that only safe, effective and quality-assured medicines are available to Nigerians.
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‎(NAN)
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