The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) says it has sealed 430 medicine outlets in Yobe State for different regulatory offences, ranging from illegal operations and unauthorised access to medicines to poor storage conditions.
The enforcement activity, conducted during an inspection exercise by the agency at the weekend, covered a total of 601 premises, including 34 pharmacies, 267 patent medicine stores, and 300 unregistered/illegal outlets.
Of the 430 premises sealed by the PCN, 20 were pharmacies, 110 patent medicine stores, and 300 illegal outlets. Furthermore, 21 Compliance Directives were served, the agency said.
The Head of Department, Enforcement, PCN, Suleiman S. Chiroma, who represented the PCN Registrar/CEO, Pharm. Babashehu Ahmed, made the disclosure to pressmen during a briefing after the enforcement exercise.
In accordance with the provisions of the law, Chiroma said 100 per cent of the 300 illegal premises identified were sealed immediately.
He also disclosed that about half of the premises inspected were found to be operating illegally.
“Of the 601 premises inspected during the exercise, 50 per cent were found to be operating illegally,” he said. “These illegal premises were scattered throughout the length and breadth of the state, underscoring the need for the Council to intensify its regulatory activities in Yobe.”
He continued, “Illegal premises accounted for 70 per cent of all facilities sealed due to one or more regulatory breaches.”
Among licensed operators, he noted that only 41 per cent of the pharmacies inspected were in full compliance with regulatory standards, thus highlighting the need to enhance monitoring.
Meanwhile, he observed that 63 per cent of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor outlets were found to be compliant.
The PCN enforcement leader highlighted a worrisome finding from the exercise in Yobe, stating that only six per cent of the 601 premises visited were pharmacies, a statistic he said reflects the low level of pharmaceutical care and services in the state.
He noted that the situation could undermine the goal of ensuring access to quality medicines for all citizens.
Highlighting the breaches identified during the exercise, he listed operating premises without a valid PCN licence, poor storage conditions, unauthorised access to controlled medicines, and the training of apprentices among the major violations.
He said these practices, if not checked, pose a danger to public health and constitute risks to national security through the potential diversion of controlled medicines into criminal networks and harm to the population.
Pursuant to its statutory responsibilities, he expressed the PCN’s commitment to ensuring adherence to standards within the pharmaceutical sector.
Consequently, all premises involved in the handling, storage, and dispensing of medicines shall be subjected to rigorous and continuous regulatory oversight. Any breach of extant regulations will attract prompt and decisive enforcement action by the Council.
The public is strongly advised to obtain medicines exclusively from premises licensed by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria. A valid licence, which must be prominently displayed, serves as confirmation of a facility’s authorisation.
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Good day Sir/Ma.
My name is Nathaniel, representing Nathaniel & Divine Medical Support Training Opportunity Recognition Excellent Vocational Training Institute Programme, based in Oleh, Isoko South, Delta State.
I am reaching out respectfully because our institution is focused on providing structured vocational healthcare-support education, particularly for people who are interested in pharmacy/medicine-support work, medicine-vending knowledge, patient support, caregiving and other related healthcare-support areas.
One of our major objectives is to educate learners on medicine safety, basic drug knowledge, proper storage, prescription-reading fundamentals, ethics, referral, professional boundaries and the importance of operating within the law.
We do not intend to replace the statutory functions of PCN or any other regulatory authority, and our vocational certificates are not intended to be presented as PCN licences or as a substitute for any government registration.
Rather, we want to work in the proper direction by educating people before they enter the field and directing eligible learners to the appropriate regulatory process for registration and compliance.
We would therefore appreciate guidance from the appropriate PCN/PCM authority on how our institution can formally engage with or collaborate with the relevant authorities, particularly in the area of educating prospective medicine vendors and referring them appropriately for the required registration and regulatory procedures.
We would also appreciate clarification on whether there is an appropriate pathway through which our institution can become recognised as a training/support partner or otherwise work with the relevant PCN/PCM structures without exceeding our permitted scope.
Our intention is to promote responsible medicine handling, patient safety, ethical conduct, proper referral and regulatory compliance.
We have been trying to reach the appropriate office regarding this matter and would sincerely appreciate a response or direction to the appropriate department/person we should contact.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Nathaniel & Divine Medical Support Training Opportunity Recognition Excellent Vocational Training Institute Programme
📍 Oleh, Isoko South, Delta State
📞 09043689026
Opportunity • Recognition • Excellence in Healthcare Education