Pharmacy Council Seals 618 Medicine Shops in Rivers and Bayelsa Over Regulatory Violations
Pharmacy Council shuts 618 drug outlets in Rivers and Bayelsa over safety and licensing violations.
Five suspects arrested as PCN warns public to verify medicine shops before making purchases.
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has shut down 618 medicine outlets in Rivers and Bayelsa States for breaching operational guidelines set by the council.
Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, Head of Enforcement at the PCN, disclosed this during a press briefing on Thursday in Port Harcourt. He said that the council’s enforcement team also arrested five individuals suspected of engaging in illegal pharmaceutical practices during a week-long operation.
Out of the sealed premises, 178 were licensed pharmacies, 123 were patent medicine shops, and 317 were identified as illegal outlets. In addition, nine premises were served compliance directives for minor infractions.
Dr. Chiroma explained that the offences committed included operating without registration, failure to renew premises licenses, unauthorized clinical practices, and illegal access to restricted medications. He expressed concern over the growing trend of unqualified individuals handling pharmaceutical products, particularly in community settings.
“The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria is empowered by Act No. 31 of 2022 to oversee the training, licensing, and conduct of pharmaceutical professionals across the country,” he said.
He emphasized that the enforcement activities in both states were aimed at cleaning up the drug distribution network and eliminating unsafe practices that threaten public health. “We are working to enforce the National Drug Distribution Guidelines, which ensure that only qualified personnel handle medicines and that all products are traceable and safe,” he added.
During the operation, the PCN enforcement teams visited four local government areas in Rivers Port Harcourt, Obio-Akpor, Ikwerre, and Etche as well as two LGAs in Bayelsa Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw. A total of 867 pharmaceutical outlets were inspected, including 344 pharmacies and 523 patent medicine stores.
Out of these, 536 premises were shut down in Rivers State alone, while 82 were sealed in Bayelsa. Dr. Chiroma pointed out several common violations, such as selling drugs from unapproved shops, exceeding the limit of drugs permitted in patent shops, hiring unqualified personnel, and storing controlled substances in areas accessible to non-pharmacists.
He expressed particular concern over findings in Rivers State, where non-pharmacist staff had unrestricted access to dangerous medicines stored in poison cupboards. “This unethical practice puts the public at serious risk, as it allows powerful medications to fall into the wrong hands,” he warned.
Another issue observed was that some shop owners made partial payments towards registration but failed to complete the licensing process, falsely presenting themselves as legally approved vendors.
Dr. Chiroma called on residents of both states to be vigilant about where they buy their medicines and to verify that any pharmacy or patent medicine store displays a valid license issued by the PCN. He also urged the public to report suspicious vendors to the council’s state offices.
As for the five arrested individuals, the PCN stated that they have been handed over to relevant security agencies for prosecution.
The council stressed that registration alone is not sufficient, as continued adherence to professional and ethical standards is essential to protect the public and maintain the integrity of the pharmaceutical industry.
