Regulatory body shuts down nearly 400 pharmacies in Oyo state

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…as nationwide crackdown exposes widespread illegal drug trade

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By Adeola Badru

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A major enforcement operation by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria has uncovered extensive breaches in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain, with 397 premises sealed in Oyo State alone over illegal medicine handling, non-registration, and public health violations.

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Addressing journalists at the Council’s zonal office in Ibadan, the Head of Department of Enforcement of the Council, Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, said the exercise was conducted under the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG), which required that, “all medicines be distributed only through approved channels, from the point of manufacture or importation down to the end user.”

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He warned that the objective of the operation was to eliminate unsafe practices in the drug distribution system.

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Chiroma stated that the enforcement drive is “progressively removing non-professional actors from the pharmaceutical supply chain and addressing inadequate storage infrastructure,” adding that this was central to combating substandard and falsified medicines across the country.

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He reaffirmed the Registrar of the Council, Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed’s commitment to health sector reforms, stressing that “safe and quality medicines are essential to effective healthcare delivery” and linking the exercise to Nigeria’s broader push towards Universal Health Coverage.

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According to him, the operation covered 13 local government areas, including Ona Ara, Oluyole, Ibadan North, Akinyele, Lagelu, Egbeda, Ido, Ogbomoso South, Iseyin, Afijio, Ogbomoso North, Oyo West and Oyo East. A total of 590 premises were inspected, comprising 164 pharmacies, 170 patent medicine vendors, and 256 illegal outlets.

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Of these, 397 premises were sealed, including 60 pharmacies, 81 patent medicine stores, and all 256 illegal outlets.

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He disclosed that, “42 per cent of the total premises visited are illegal,” describing the figure as a serious threat to public health and an indicator of systemic regulatory failure at the sub-national level.

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Chiroma further revealed that only 36 per cent of pharmacies inspected were fully compliant, noting that many operators had failed to complete registration despite paying statutory fees.

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Htle described the situation as “not encouraging,” warning that weak compliance undermines the integrity of the national drug distribution system.

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The sealed premises were found to have engaged in multiple violations, including, “failure to produce valid licences or evidence of registration upon lawful demand,” “unauthorised clinical practice,” “overstocking beyond approved lists for PPMVs,” and “sales of medicinal products from prohibited metal or wooden containers.”

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He said some operators were also accused of obstructing inspectors from carrying out their statutory duties.

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Chiroma stressed that such breaches posed grave risks, including poisoning, drug abuse, addiction crises, and the proliferation of substandard medicines.

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He warned that “these breaches can lead to serious threats to public health and safety,” adding that it would continue to apply the full force of the law against offenders.

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Reiterating his mandate, he declared that, “every premises involved in the handling of medicines shall be subjected to thorough and continuous regulatory oversight,” insisting that Nigerians are entitled to safe and quality-assured medicines dispensed only by licensed professionals.

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Chiroma, however, thanked residents of Oyo State for their cooperation during the exercise, urging Nigerians nationwide to patronise only licensed pharmacies and verify PCN registration certificates displayed at approved outlets.

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“Together, we will ensure that only safe and quality medicines reach all Nigerians,” he stated.

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