A major enforcement operation by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria has exposed widespread violations in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain, with 397 premises shut down in Oyo State alone for illegal medicine handling, lack of registration, and breaches of public health regulations.
Speaking to journalists at the Council’s zonal office in Ibadan, the Head of Enforcement, Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, said the exercise was carried out under the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG), which require that, “all medicines be distributed only through approved channels, from the point of manufacture or importation down to the end user.”
He said the aim of the operation was to remove unsafe practices from drug distribution.
Chiroma explained that the enforcement effort is “progressively removing non-professional actors from the pharmaceutical supply chain and addressing inadequate storage infrastructure,” adding that this is key to tackling substandard and falsified medicines nationwide.
He also reaffirmed the commitment of the Council’s Registrar, Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, to ongoing health sector reforms, noting that “safe and quality medicines are essential to effective healthcare delivery” and linking the initiative to Nigeria’s drive toward Universal Health Coverage.
According to him, inspections covered 13 local government areas, including Ona Ara, Oluyole, Ibadan North, Akinyele, Lagelu, Egbeda, Ido, Ogbomoso South, Iseyin, Afijio, Ogbomoso North, Oyo West and Oyo East. In total, 590 premises were checked, made up of 164 pharmacies, 170 patent medicine vendors, and 256 illegal outlets.
Out of these, 397 premises were sealed, comprising 60 pharmacies, 81 patent medicine stores, and all 256 illegal outlets.
He noted that, “42 per cent of the total premises visited are illegal,” describing the figure as alarming and a sign of weak regulatory compliance at sub-national levels.
Chiroma added that only 36 per cent of inspected pharmacies met full compliance requirements, pointing out that many operators had not completed registration despite paying statutory fees.
He described the situation as “not encouraging,” warning that poor compliance weakens the integrity of the national drug distribution system.
The sealed outlets were found guilty of several violations, including, “failure to produce valid licences or evidence of registration upon lawful demand,” “unauthorised clinical practice,” “overstocking beyond approved lists for PPMVs,” and “sales of medicinal products from prohibited metal or wooden containers.”
He further said some operators obstructed inspectors from carrying out their official duties.
Chiroma warned that such offences pose serious public health risks, including poisoning, drug abuse, addiction, and the spread of substandard medicines.
He added that “these breaches can lead to serious threats to public health and safety,” stressing that enforcement would continue to be applied strictly against offenders.
Restating the Council’s position, he said, “every premises involved in the handling of medicines shall be subjected to thorough and continuous regulatory oversight,” insisting that Nigerians deserve safe medicines dispensed only by licensed professionals.
Chiroma also expressed appreciation to residents of Oyo State for their cooperation during the exercise, while urging Nigerians nationwide to patronise only licensed pharmacies and confirm PCN registration certificates at approved outlets.
“Together, we will ensure that only safe and quality medicines reach all Nigerians,” he said.
