Following various regulatory violations and disregard for the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria’s guidelines, 486 pharmaceutical premises in Niger State have been shut down.
The Head of Enforcement at PCN Headquarters, Dr Suleiman Ciroma, made the disclosure on Friday, in Minna while speaking to newsmen at the North Central Zonal Office.
He said the decision followed the council’s inspection exercise in the state, noting that “the sealed premises included 69 pharmacies, 127 patent medicine shops, and 290 unlicensed outlets.”
Ciroma explained that an individual was arrested for allegedly obstructing PCN inspectors during their duties and will face prosecution.
He added that 672 premises were inspected across nine Local Government Areas of Agaie, Bida, Tafa, Chanchaga, Lapai, Paikoro, Bosso, Suleja, and Gurara.
He also explained that the inspection focused on ensuring compliance with professional ethics, personnel qualifications, premises standards, and pharmaceutical practices to guarantee safe and quality service delivery to the people.
The PCN enforcement head said, “the inspection revealed illegal operations of unlicensed outlets, unauthorised clinical practice, non-compliance with regulations, sale of controlled drugs and unapproved training of apprentices, among others.”
He said that license premises could be identified by the display of current licenses and urged members of the public to patronise only licensed premises.
He assured that the council’s nationwide enforcement would help check the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines and hailed the residents of the state for their cooperation during the exercise.
486 pharmacies, drug stores, unlicensed outlets shut down in Niger for regulatory violations
