The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, PCN, has sealed 722 pharmaceutical premises in Bauchi State over various regulatory violations, including the closure unauthorised sale of controlled medicines.
The head of enforcement Department Sulaiman Chiroma says the enforcement exercise is aimed at protecting public health, curbing the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines, and ensuring that drugs are handled and dispensed by qualified personnel.
The four-day enforcement operation covered fourteen local government areas of Bauchi State, with a total of 950 premises inspected.
These comprised 92 pharmacies, 527 patent medicine shops, and 331 illegal drug outlets.
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Addressing journalists after inspecting some of the affected facilities, the Head of Enforcement Department, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Sulaiman Chiroma, said the team discovered some patent medicine vendors, particularly in the Bayan Gari area of Bauchi metropolis, allegedly selling controlled medicines in violation of established regulations.
The substances include Rohypnol, Diazepam, Tramadol, and codeine-containing cough syrups.
Chiroma stressed that only licensed pharmaceutical premises are authorised to handle, store, and dispense medicines in accordance with the law.
He warned that continued violations would attract appropriate sanctions while urging members of the public to purchase medicines only from licensed outlets and ensure that valid operating licences are displayed.
The enforcement exercise forms part of the Council’s nationwide efforts to sanitise the drug distribution system and promote access to safe, effective, and quality-assured medicines.
According to the PCN, only 43 per cent of the pharmacies inspected, and 36 per cent of patent medicine outlets met the required regulatory standards, highlighting the need for sustained monitoring and enforcement across the state.
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(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
