The Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) shut down 131 drug outlets in Nasarawa State following a three-day enforcement operation targeting illegal and unsafe pharmaceutical practices. Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, PCN's Head of Enforcement, disclosed the figure at a press briefing in Karu, stating the crackdown was part of ongoing efforts to clean up the drug distribution system. The sealed facilities include 16 wholesale outlets, 31 registered community pharmacies, 51 patent medicine shops, and 32 operating without valid licenses. Chiroma emphasized that unlicensed operations and substandard practices posed serious risks to public health and would not be tolerated. The regulatory agency described the exercise as part of its broader mandate to ensure compliance with national pharmaceutical standards across all states.
Sealing 131 drug outlets in one state within three days exposes how weak oversight has allowed widespread illegal drug trading to flourish. Dr. Suleiman Chiroma's figures suggest Nasarawa's pharmacy sector is operating with minimal regulatory control, raising concerns about medicine safety. If such lapses are this common in one state, similar patterns likely exist in others with even less scrutiny. This crackdown, while necessary, shows enforcement has been reactive rather than consistent, leaving Nigerians exposed for too long.
