KADUNA – The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 598 premises and arrested two vendors in a major enforcement operation against drug regulation violations and unsafe pharmaceutical practices in Kaduna State.
Suleiman Chiroma, the PCN’s national head of enforcement, disclosed this on Friday. He said the four-day exercise, which began on Monday, covered ten council areas, including Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Zaria, Makarfi, Kudan, Igabi, Chikun, Sabon Gari, Giwa, and Ikara.
According to Mr Chiroma, enforcement officers visited 828 premises, comprising pharmacies, patent medicine stores, and unlicensed outlets. The sealed premises included pharmacies, patent medicine shops, and all unlicensed locations identified during the crackdown. Two vendors were arrested for gross violations of the PCN Act.
Despite the scale of the closures, Mr Chiroma noted that only nine per cent of inspected premises were operating unlawfully—a sign of improving regulatory compliance. He added that 28 per cent of all premises were fully compliant, while 45 per cent of pharmacies and 28 per cent of patent medicine shops met required standards.
Offences leading to the sealings included lack of valid licences, unauthorised clinical practices, improper stocking of medicines, illegal operations, breaches of restricted drug access, and obstruction of inspectors.
Mr Chiroma explained that the operation targeted unsafe medicine handling and illegal practices that threaten drug quality, potency, and therapeutic effectiveness across the supply chain. The exercise, he said, is part of broader efforts to eliminate substandard and falsified medicines while safeguarding public health and safety.
