The Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria sealed 130 pharmaceutical outlets in Nasarawa State for violating regulatory standards. Dr Suleiman Chiroma, PCN's Head of Enforcement, revealed this at a Thursday press briefing in Karu Local Government Area. The crackdown followed a March 30 to April 1 inspection that targeted 272 premises, including wholesalers, community pharmacies, patent medicine stores, and unlicensed facilities.
Of the 130 sealed premises, 16 were wholesalers, 31 community pharmacies, 51 patent medicine stores, and all 32 unlicensed facilities. Seven compliance directives were issued, and one pharmacist was arrested for obstructing officials. Chiroma noted that 70% of affected premises were in Karu, where many registered pharmacists were absent, leaving untrained attendants to handle medications.
Inspections uncovered that 70% of community pharmacies lacked licensed pharmacists, 61% did not display operating licences, and patent medicine vendors frequently operated beyond their permitted scope. The PCN urged residents to buy drugs only from registered, inspected outlets displaying valid licences to ensure safety and regulatory compliance.
Dr Suleiman Chiroma's admission that 70% of sealed pharmacies in Karu lacked licensed professionals exposes a systemic failure in Nigeria's drug distribution chain. This isn't just about Nasarawa—it reflects a nationwide pattern where profit trumps patient safety, leaving Nigerians vulnerable to counterfeit or improperly stored medicines. With the PCN promising more raids but no concrete penalties for erring pharmacists, the public is left to navigate a system where compliance is optional until caught.
