The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 572 pharmacies, patent medicine stores and illegal medicine outlets in Plateau State following a four-day enforcement operation targeting breaches in pharmaceutical regulations.
Announcing the exercise at a press briefing in Jos on Friday, the PCN Head of Enforcement, Dr Suleiman Chiroma, said the affected outlets were shut down for multiple violations, including cooking within drug premises, unauthorised clinical practice, and improper handling of controlled medicines.
Speaking on behalf of the Registrar, Ibrahim Ahmed, Chiroma said the operation was conducted under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act No. 31 of 2022. He explained that it formed part of efforts to enforce the National Drug Distribution Guidelines aimed at addressing Nigeria’s “chaotic drug distribution system.”
According to him, the initiative is designed to eliminate unqualified actors from the pharmaceutical supply chain and strengthen proper storage and distribution systems to reduce the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines.
Enforcement teams visited eight local government areas, including Jos South, Jos North, Mangu, Shendam, Barkin Ladi, Qua’an Pan and Bassa. Out of 778 premises inspected—comprising pharmacies, patent medicine vendors and illegal outlets—572 were sealed.
Chiroma disclosed that 120 pharmacies, 372 patent medicine stores and all 80 illegal outlets were shut down, while five compliance directives were issued.
He expressed concern over the level of non-compliance, noting that 60 per cent of pharmacies visited were sealed, describing the findings as “deeply troubling” for pharmaceutical practice in the state.
Observed violations included improper storage of medicines, unauthorised dispensing practices, restricted access breaches involving controlled drugs, and obstruction of inspectors during regulatory checks.
The PCN warned that such practices pose serious risks to public health and could enable diversion of controlled substances to criminal elements.
Despite the scale of closures, the council noted that illegal premises made up a relatively small proportion of the outlets inspected. However, it expressed concern that many registered pharmacies were also found to be operating below acceptable standards.
The council urged residents to patronise only licensed medicine outlets, reaffirming its commitment to sustained enforcement and regulatory oversight across the country.