The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria has firmly rejected allegations that it is protecting illegal drug operators in Kano State, challenging the chairman of the state’s anti-drug task force to produce concrete evidence to back his claims.
The rebuttal follows assertions made on November 14 by Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado, chairman of the Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Rimin-Gado had accused the PCN and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control of facilitating the distribution of controlled substances.
He specifically questioned the issuance of import licences for pregabalin after it was rescheduled as a controlled drug in September 2026, and alleged that the PCN registered a pharmaceutical outlet at No. 10 Apple Avenue in a residential area to serve as a concealed distribution point.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Pharm. Hasiya Ladan, Consultant Pharmacist at the PCN Kano State Office, described the allegations as “baseless and misleading.” She disclosed that the council sealed 1,631 pharmaceutical premises in Kano State in 2026 following inspections of 2,304 drug outlets, with 15 investigations into regulatory violations currently ongoing.
Addressing the claim about the residential area outlet, the PCN clarified that its Pharmaceutical Premises Location, Inspection, Structure, Monitoring and Enforcement Regulations 2022 do not prohibit the registration of facilities in residential zones, provided they meet all statutory requirements. The council noted that the task force chairman failed to identify any specific provisions of the Land Use Act that were allegedly breached.
On the controversy surrounding pregabalin, the council explained that issuing import licences to pharmaceutical companies falls within its statutory responsibilities, while NAFDAC is responsible for issuing product permits that specify authorised categories and quantities. The PCN stressed that the mere issuance of an import licence should not be interpreted as evidence of wrongdoing without proof linking the products to specific violations.
The council also defended its operational capacity in the state. It explained that its regulatory framework is supported by two established committees in every state: the Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee (PIC) and the Patent and Proprietary Medicines Vendors Licence Committee.
These committees, chaired by state Directors of Pharmaceutical Services, allow the PCN to mobilise sufficient personnel for enforcement, meaning its capacity should not be judged solely by the number of officers permanently stationed in the state.
Furthermore, the PCN highlighted its monitoring framework for controlled medicines, noting the deployment of the Disposal of Poison Records (Form K) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and NAFDAC. All pharmaceutical premises are required to maintain strict records of controlled substances, and facilities found negligent face regulatory sanctions.
The council challenged Rimin-Gado to provide the names of any officials allegedly involved in clandestine drug businesses, along with specific cases or verifiable evidence. It assured that it would not hesitate to investigate and sanction any staff member found culpable of misconduct.
Reaffirming its commitment to combating drug abuse, the PCN stated that tackling illicit drugs requires cooperation among regulatory agencies rather than institutional intimidation.
The council warned that allegations capable of undermining public confidence in established regulatory institutions should not be made without verifiable facts, and urged the task force to submit any credible evidence for proper investigation.
