PCN seals 821 pharmacies, patent stores in Kano 

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria has sealed no fewer than 821 pharmaceutical premises in Kano State over non-compliance with the council’s Act.

The affected premises included 68 pharmacies, 587 patent medicine stores, and 166 illegal outlets.

The Head of Department, Enforcement, Dr Sulaiman Chiroma, made the disclosure while addressing a news conference in Kano on Thursday.

He explained that the enforcement was carried out in eight local government areas, namely, Kano Municipal, Gwale, Kumbotso, Nassarawa, Tarauni, Ungoggo, Dala and Fagge.

“The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria is statutorily mandated to enforce the National Drug Distribution Guidelines. The NDDG ensures that all medicinal products move strictly through approved distribution channels — from manufacturing or importation to the final consumer,” Chiroma said.

According to him, the affected premises were sealed for non-compliance with statutory provisions of the PCN Act, such as licensing and registration breaches and engagement in unauthorised clinical practices, among others.

“Over the four-day operation, the team inspected a total of 1,140 premises, comprising 114 pharmacies, 869 patent medicine stores, and 166 illegal outlets.

“PCN enforcement activities are progressively eliminating non-professional actors from the pharmaceutical supply chain and correcting inadequate storage infrastructure,” he said.

Chiroma said in addition, 10 compliance directives were issued, and one illegal medicine shop operator was arrested for obstructing inspectors and gross violation of the PCN Act.

“It is regrettable to note the proliferation of unauthorised pharmaceutical outlets within clusters identified in the Kasuwan Kurmi and Kwangiri areas of the Kano metropolis.

“The matter was addressed with the requisite administrative and regulatory urgency, resulting in the permanent closure and sealing of 46 such non-compliant premises,” he said.

He noted that further analysis of the exercise revealed a marked decline in the prevalence of unlicensed pharmaceutical outlets, with only 15% of the 893 premises inspected found to be operating outside the extant regulatory framework.

“This development underscores significant progress in the enforcement and oversight functions of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.

“In terms of compliance, 28% of all premises visited were adjudged to be fully compliant and operating in strict accordance with established regulatory guidelines”, he said.

He said the Council, under the leadership of the Registrar, Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed remains firmly committed to advancing key health sector reforms that support the vision of achieving Universal Health Coverage for Nigerians.