Public Health Alert: PCN Seals 383 Illegal Pharmacies and Medicine Stores in Ogun State
ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA — The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has shut down 383 pharmaceutical premises and patent medicine stores across Ogun State for various regulatory violations, including operating without registration and selling unwholesome products.
The enforcement action followed an intensive four-day inspection operation targeting 11 Local Government Areas in the state, with a strong focus on sanitising the medicine distribution chain in rural communities.
Widespread Violations Uncovered
A national enforcement team inspected a total of 738 premises, consisting of pharmacies and patent medicine shops. Out of these, 383 outlets were sealed off for severe regulatory infractions.
According to Suleiman Chiroma, the PCN Head of Enforcement, who spoke on behalf of the Registrar, 173 of the sealed facilities were found to be completely unregistered and operating illegally.
Major infractions cited by the council during the operation include:
- Operating without valid PCN licenses
- Poor and inadequate medicine storage conditions
- Unauthorised stock and sale of controlled substances
- Engaging in illegal clinical practices
- Training apprentices and cooking within pharmaceutical premises
- Obstructing regulatory inspectors
The council noted that poor storage setups expose sensitive medications to severe degradation, rendering them unsafe or ineffective for public consumption.
Furthermore, the unregulated sale of controlled substances directly feeds illicit drug abuse networks, worsening regional social and security challenges.
Protecting Public Health
Ogun State marks the ninth destination covered in the PCN’s ongoing nationwide campaign to clean up the country’s drug markets.
The regulatory body reiterated that these enforcement exercises are crucial for protecting Nigerians from counterfeit, substandard, and unwholesome medical products.
The PCN advised members of the public to remain vigilant and purchase their medicines exclusively from registered pharmacies and licensed patent medicine stores.
