As part of its ongoing enforcement drive to regulate pharmacy practice and ensure public safety in Nigeria, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 618 pharmacies and patent medicine stores in Rivers and Bayelsa states.
According to the PCN, a total of 867 premises were inspected, comprising 344 pharmacies and 523 patent medicine stores in major local government areas, including Port Harcourt, Obio-Akpor, Ikwerre, and Etche in Rivers State, as well as Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw in Bayelsa State.
While 536 premises were sealed in Rivers, 82 premises were sealed in Bayelsa.
According to the Council, the affected premises were shut down for various violations, including “operating without valid licenses, failure to renew premises registration, engaging in unauthorized clinical activities, illegal access to controlled medicines, overstocking beyond the approved Patent Medicine List, training of unqualified apprentices, and retailing drugs from wholesale outlets”, practices it described as unethical and unacceptable.
Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the PCN’s National Head of Enforcement, Suleiman Chiroma, stated that the exercise, which commenced earlier this week, encompassed major local government areas in the two states.
Chiroma said five persons were arrested and have been handed over to the security agencies for “breaking the PCN Seal”.
“The pharmaceutical landscape in Nigeria has been bedeviled with chaotic drug distribution, unlicensed/illegal premises, and handling of medicines by unauthorized persons.”
“A total number of 618 premises were sealed in both states, which comprised 178 pharmacies and 123 patent medicine shops, and 317 illegal shops for various offences, while 9 premises were issued compliance directives.”
The PCN’s National Head of Enforcement highlighted the “unfettered access to controlled medicines in poison cupboard by non-pharmacists’ staff in pharmacies,” in Rivers State, he said.
Chiroma noted that the practice allows medicines to get into the hands of unauthorized persons for abuse, which poses a security risk to the general public.
The Council also raised concerns about some vendors making payments for registration without completing the full process, falsely presenting themselves as licensed.
He reiterated the importance of only trained personnel handling pharmaceutical products, emphasizing that “medicines are poisons and must be regulated.”
He urged the public to verify that pharmacy or patent medicine vendors (PPMVs) display their official licences conspicuously within their premises.
Chiroma appealed to residents of Rivers and Bayelsa states to be cautious about where they purchase medicines and to report any suspicious activities to the PCN state offices.
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