– Unveils Proposed Ultra-Modern Secretariat at AGM
The Lagos State chapter of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has declared its full support for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in its ongoing crackdown on open drug markets across the country, especially the ones in Lagos State.
Speaking during the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) at its secretariat in Ogudu, Lagos, ACPN Chairman, Pharm. Tolulope Ajayi, commended NAFDAC’s efforts in tackling counterfeit and substandard medicines, stressing that the move is crucial for public health and the integrity of pharmacy practice.
“Many of our members do not patronise these markets because they expose the public to dangerous and adulterated drugs. The recent revelation by the NAFDAC DG on counterfeit medicines, including altered expiration dates, reinforces the need for decisive action,” Ajayi stated.
He further called on the government to prioritise pharmaceutical regulation by providing NAFDAC and other agencies with the necessary resources and security support to carry out their mandates effectively.
Ajayi urged community pharmacists to uphold professionalism, while also challenging manufacturers to be intentional about their distribution channels, ensuring that quality medicines do not end up in unregulated markets.
Beyond endorsing NAFDAC’s regulatory measures, the ACPN used the AGM to unveil plans for an ultra-modern secretariat aimed at enhancing professional collaboration, capacity building, and improved service delivery among community pharmacists in the state.
Ajayi described the proposed facility as a strategic investment in the future of pharmacy practice in Lagos, adding that it will serve as a hub for continuous professional development and policy advocacy.
Speaking at the event, Pharm. Abiola Paul-Ozieh, former ACPN Lagos chairman and chairman of the Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN), described the issue of open drug markets as a national crisis requiring urgent and decisive action.
“This is not just about the ACPN; it is about what is best for public health in Nigeria. As far back as 2012, a national drug distribution guideline was instituted to address the chaotic drug distribution system in the country. Unfortunately, due to weak political will, its implementation has been stalled for years,” she said.
Paul-Ozieh lamented that Nigeria has repeatedly failed to enforce policies designed to improve healthcare access and ensure the safety of pharmaceutical products. She stressed that if the National Drug Policy had been properly implemented, the current crisis of substandard and falsified medicines would have been averted.
According to her, treating medicines as mere trade commodities instead of essential healthcare products exposes the nation to serious risks. She noted that open drug markets are the primary channels through which substandard and falsified medicines infiltrate the Nigerian healthcare system, making their dismantling imperative.
Commending NAFDAC’s enforcement efforts, Paul-Ozieh called for greater government support, including increased funding, personnel, and security measures to strengthen regulatory agencies. She also urged the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) to complement NAFDAC’s efforts by auditing the entire pharmaceutical value chain—from importers and manufacturers to wholesalers and retailers—to ensure compliance with ethical standards.
“This crackdown should not end here. Every stakeholder, including pharmacists, manufacturers, and regulatory agencies, must play their part in ensuring that medicines are distributed safely and ethically. The government must act decisively to prevent further delays in implementing the NDDG.”
Also speaking, Pharm. Aminu Yinka Abdulsalam, a former chairman of ACPN Lagos, highlighted concerns over drug distribution, particularly at Idumota and other unregulated markets, stressing that pharmacists must ensure they obtain medicines only from licensed wholesalers accredited by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) to maintain traceability and accountability.
“Our role as pharmacists is to intervene in the lives of patients to ensure they get well. Medicine has life, and if not properly stored, its effectiveness can be compromised. Therefore, it is not expected that trained professionals should source medicines from locations where storage conditions are questionable.”
He noted that Lagos State has legitimate wholesalers scattered across the metropolis, making it unnecessary for pharmacists to patronise Idumota, and other open drug markets.
Adding his voice, Pharm. Anthony Bola Oyawole, a past chairman of Lagos PSN, a member of the Board of Trustees of ACPN, Lagos State, lamented that in Nigeria, the pharmaceutical industry had been turned into a form of trade, saying globally, regulations dictate storage, distribution, and sale.
He stressed the need for proper oversight, concluding that Nigeria must realign its pharmaceutical distribution system with global best practices to safeguard public health.
He further explained, “Drugs are living things because they are supposed to elicit certain actions in the body, and they have a limited period in which they can function effectively. Active ingredients require specific storage conditions, whether room temperature, 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, or even minus 8 degrees Celsius for vaccines. Without proper storage, drugs become ineffective or even poisonous.”
Pharm. Oyawole emphasised that the last time any premise was registered in Idumota was in the early 1980s, highlighting the lack of regulatory oversight. He recalled that between 2005 and 2008, there were some regulatory efforts, but political will was lacking to sustain them.
He added, “If NAFDAC has woken up today and has taken action, we should congratulate them. However, they must maintain the momentum so that regulation is periodical and sustainable.”
A key highlight of the event was the unanimous re-election of the association’s executive members, ensuring continuity in leadership.
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