The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed off 666 medicine shops in Kaduna State as part of a sweeping enforcement action targeting unregulated drug sales and poor storage practices. Among the closed establishments were 47 pharmacies, 313 patent medicine stores, and 306 illegal premises operating without proper licenses or oversight.
The enforcement drive, conducted over the past week, involved inspections of 895 premises across the state. PCN officials discovered that many of these outlets were selling prescription drugs without a supervising pharmacist, failing to register with the appropriate authorities, or operating in violation of pharmaceutical standards.
Pharm. Stephen Esumobi, PCN’s Director of Enforcement, highlighted the dangers posed by unregulated drug markets in Nigeria. He warned that medicines sold in these conditions often lack proper storage, which can render them ineffective or dangerous. He also expressed concern over the sale of substances of abuse in some of the sealed shops, further exacerbating social and security issues in the region.
The PCN urged operators of the affected premises to comply with legal and professional guidelines, stating that its Kaduna office is ready to assist those willing to regularize their operations. The council remains committed to ensuring that safe, effective, and high-quality medicines are distributed across Nigeria's healthcare system, safeguarding public health.
