THE Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 618 pharmaceutical premises, including pharmacies, patent medicine stores, and illegal drug outlets, across Rivers and Bayelsa States for flouting professional and regulatory standards.
The PCN also confirmed the arrest of five individuals involved in illegal pharmaceutical practices.
The clampdown was part of a week-long enforcement operation aimed at sanitising drug distribution and ensuring public safety.
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, the Head of Enforcement at the PCN, Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, said a total of 867 drug outlets were inspected.
These included 344 pharmacies and 523 patent medicine stores across four LGAs in Rivers (Port Harcourt, Obio-Akpor, Ikwerre, and Etche) and two in Bayelsa (Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw).
Out of these, 618 premises were sealed — comprising 178 pharmacies, 123 patent medicine shops, and 317 illegal drug outlets. An additional nine were served compliance directives.
Chiroma further said that the offences included operating illegal premises or shops, non-renewal of premises registration, carrying out clinical practice, unauthorised access to controlled medicines, overstocking beyond the Approved Patent Medicine List, training of apprentices, and retailing by wholesale premises.
He warned that several operators had deceptively presented payment receipts without completing their registration process, while in some pharmacies, controlled drugs were openly accessible to non-pharmacists — a practice he labelled both unethical and dangerous.
“The pharmaceutical landscape in Nigeria has been plagued by chaotic drug distribution and unauthorized handling of medicines,” Chiroma said.
“The PCN is determined to enforce national drug guidelines and ensure that only trained personnel are involved in pharmaceutical care.”
The five arrested suspects have been handed over to security agencies for further investigation and prosecution.
Chiroma urged residents of both states to verify the legitimacy of drug outlets by checking for visibly displayed licenses, and to report suspicious premises to the PCN state offices.
He stressed that beyond acquiring licenses, continuous compliance with ethical and regulatory standards is essential for protecting public health and the integrity of the pharmacy profession.