The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria has sealed 489 drug stores in Akwa Ibom State for not meeting professional standards.
Out of the total number, 122 were pharmacies while 367 were patent medicine stores. Six other outlets were issued compliance directives.
This was announced on Thursday during a press conference in Uyo by the Head of Enforcement at PCN, Dr. Suleiman Chiroma. He said the action followed a one-week inspection across the state to check the quality and safety of medicine handling in the area.
Dr. Chiroma explained that the inspection was aimed at stopping unqualified persons from running drug stores and to ensure that people have safe access to quality medicine.
“The National Drug Distribution Guidelines, which PCN is enforcing, are to ensure proper and effective channels of drug distribution,” he said.
“This is to stop the chaotic system that allows untrained people to sell drugs and handle medicine carelessly,” he added.
He also noted a serious concern during the inspection—many of the sealed shops were training apprentices without proper supervision or approval, which is against the law.
“One of the serious misnomers and trends observed during the exercise was the uncontrolled and rampant training of apprentices by some premises, which is a blatant violation of the PCN Act,” Chiroma stated.
The enforcement team visited 14 local government areas including Uyo, Okobo, Oron, Ikot Ekpene, Ikot Abasi, Abak, Essien Udim, Ibiono Ibom, Ikono, Ini, Eket, Ibeno, Ibesikpo Asutan, and Itu.
Dr. Chiroma urged members of the public to always buy their medicine from registered and approved shops to avoid health risks.
He said the PCN would continue to carry out similar exercises across the country to protect Nigerians and clean up the drug distribution system.
