PCN Clamps Down On 3,000 Illegal Pharmacies In Nigeria

The Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) has clamped down on illegal drug markets across the country in connection with the distribution of illicit drugs.
Within seven months, officials of the Council said that it has permanently closed down 3,000 open drugs markets responsible for the distribution of illicit drugs with about 10 persons arrested for the same offence.
The Markets mostly affected were located in Sabon Gari, Kano State, Idumota, Lagos state and under the bridge in Onitsha.
Registrar of the Council,  Pharmacist Ibrahim Ahmed Baba Shehu dislosed this during a courtesy visit to the state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello at Government House, Minna, Wednesday.
Baba Shehu said the step was part of the renewed vigour of the Council towards sanitising illegal drug markets by waging a total war against the defaulters across the country.
In his words, “we are not only closing down these open drugs markets but we are replacing them with regulated facilities where drugs would be properly stored, handled and sold to retailers and thus giving room for coordinated wholesale Centres “.
He explained that the coordinated wholesale facility in Kano has been completed and would be opened in  July this year while that of Lagos was also in progress.
Receiving the Registrar and his team, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello stressed the need for effective enforcement of regulations on the dispensation of drugs on open counter especially if not prescribed.
He lamented that quack pharmacists have been responsible for the sale of illicit drugs to youths in the state saying,”this is very disturbing because the development has in no small way affected the security of our state.”