The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has shut down 572 pharmacies, patent medicine vendors, and illegal drug outlets across Plateau State following a sweeping enforcement operation aimed at sanitising the pharmaceutical distribution system in the state.
The Council said the affected facilities were closed over multiple regulatory breaches, including operating without valid licences, unauthorised clinical practice, running illegal medicine outlets, and obstructing pharmaceutical inspectors during regulatory duties.
The enforcement exercise, which lasted four days and began on Monday, was conducted across several local government areas, including Jos North, Jos South, Mangu, Shendam, Barkin Ladi, Qua’an Pan, and Bassa. According to PCN officials, the operation revealed widespread non-compliance with existing pharmaceutical regulations.
Addressing journalists in Jos on Friday, the Head of Enforcement at the PCN, Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, disclosed that a total of 778 premises were inspected during the operation. These included 199 pharmacies, 499 Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs), and 80 illegal medicine outlets operating outside approved regulatory frameworks.
He explained that out of the inspected facilities, 572 were sealed for various infractions. This includes 120 pharmacies, 372 patent medicine stores, and all 80 illegal drug outlets identified during the enforcement drive. In addition, five operators were issued compliance directives for lesser violations that require corrective action.
Dr. Chiroma stated that the exercise was carried out in line with the provisions of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act as well as the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG), both of which are designed to regulate the handling and sale of medicines in the country.
He warned that many of the infractions uncovered pose serious risks to public health, including improper drug dispensing, lack of professional oversight, and the proliferation of unlicensed medicine dealers who operate outside the formal healthcare system.
According to him, about 60 percent of the facilities inspected failed to meet required standards, a situation the Council described as alarming and capable of undermining public confidence in the pharmaceutical sector if not urgently addressed.
The PCN reaffirmed its commitment to continuous monitoring and enforcement, stating that similar nationwide operations will be intensified to ensure that only qualified and licensed professionals are allowed to operate in the drug distribution chain.
