The Kwara State Government has expressed deep concern over the widespread presence of illegal drug vendors following a recent enforcement operation that led to the closure of 724 unregistered pharmaceutical premises across the state.
Authorities said the discovery points to significant gaps in the regulation of medicine sales and poses a major threat to public health, especially in communities where residents may unknowingly purchase drugs from unlicensed operators.
In a statement issued by the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Hospitals Management Board, Dr Abdulraheem Malik, the government praised the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria for the crackdown but stressed that the scale of the violations uncovered was disturbing.
“The recent discovery and closure of 724 illegal drug premises in Kwara State by inspectors of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria from Abuja is a source of serious concern to the Kwara State Government and all stakeholders in the health sector.”
“While the enforcement exercise is commendable, the sheer number of illegal premises uncovered is alarming and unacceptable,” he said.
Malik warned that many of the illegal outlets are run by individuals lacking the professional expertise required to safely store, dispense and manage medications, increasing the risk of harmful health outcomes.
“Such operators do not possess adequate knowledge of drug storage requirements, medication counselling, dosage management, adverse drug reactions, or drug interactions. The result can be treatment failure, medication errors, antimicrobial resistance, avoidable complications, and even loss of life,” Malik stated.
He noted that countless cases of poor treatment outcomes and medication-related complications may be linked to drugs obtained from unregulated sources, though many incidents are never traced back to their origin.
The government also called on regulatory authorities within the state to strengthen monitoring efforts and adopt more proactive measures to identify illegal operators before they become established.
“The staggering figure of 724 illegal premises suggests that existing surveillance and enforcement mechanisms require strengthening. The Kwara State Pharmaceutical Inspectors Committee should redirect its energy toward developing more robust and proactive strategies aimed at identifying and eliminating illegal drug outlets before they become entrenched in our communities,” he said.
Malik further recommended greater collaboration with community-based health committees across the state, saying their local presence could help authorities detect and report illegal medicine vendors more effectively.
“These committees have already demonstrated their effectiveness in supporting the monitoring and supervision of state-owned health facilities, particularly in rural and underserved communities.”
“Their grassroots presence and close relationship with community members position them to serve as valuable partners in identifying and reporting illegal drug premises and unauthorised medicine vendors,” he added.
He urged residents to patronise only licensed pharmacies and medicine providers while supporting efforts to eliminate unsafe drug distribution channels.
“The goal must be unequivocal: when PCN inspectors from Abuja return for future enforcement exercises, they should find a significantly reduced number of illegal drug premises in Kwara State.”
“Such an outcome would demonstrate that lessons have been learned, corrective actions have been implemented, and public health protection remains a top priority,” he said.
Malik added that protecting citizens from unsafe medicines requires sustained collaboration among regulators, healthcare professionals and local communities.