By Jelili Gbadamosi
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has raised concerns over unsafe pharmaceutical practices in Yobe State after sealing 430 drug outlets and pharmacies during a four-day enforcement operation.
The council inspected 601 pharmaceutical premises across 10 local government areas, including Damaturu, Potiskum, Nguru, Fune and Bade.
According to the PCN Head of Enforcement, Suleiman Chiroma, about half of the premises inspected were operating illegally.
Chiroma, who disclosed this to journalists in Damaturu on Thursday, said the affected facilities included 300 unregistered outlets, 267 Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor (PPMV) stores and 34 pharmacies.
He said the council sealed 300 illegal outlets, 110 PPMV stores and 20 pharmacies, while 21 facilities were issued compliance directives.
Chiroma expressed concern over the level of non-compliance, revealing that only 41 per cent of pharmacies and 63 per cent of PPMV outlets inspected met the required regulatory standards.
He identified some of the violations as operating without PCN licences, improper storage of medicines, unauthorised access to controlled drugs and allowing apprentices to dispense medicines.
The enforcement chief warned that such practices could expose residents to serious health risks, including treatment failure, drug abuse and antimicrobial resistance.
He also noted that pharmacies accounted for only six per cent of the premises inspected, describing the figure as an indication of inadequate pharmaceutical care and services in the state.
The exercise was conducted under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Establishment Act 2022 as part of efforts to ensure the availability of safe and quality medicines in line with the National Drug Policy.
Chiroma said the council would continue its regulatory activities across the state and advised residents to buy medicines only from PCN-licensed premises.
