Pharmacy Council Shuts Down Nearly 800 Illegal Drug Shops in Kano

(PCN Enforcement Team in Kano. Photo by Vanguard News)

Nigeria's drug regulatory council has shut down nearly 800 unlicensed and illegal medicine outlets across Kano State during an enforcement operation.

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria sealed 797 premises during a four-day exercise covering 28 local government areas.

The sealed outlets included 437 completely illegal drug shops and 352 patent medicine vendor stores that were operating improperly.

Eight regular pharmacies were also sealed for regulatory violations.

Inspectors visited 1,153 premises in total during the operation.

They found serious problems at many of the outlets.

Some were operating without any registration or license.

Others were patent medicine vendors stocking prescription drugs, injectable medications and intravenous infusions that they had no permission to sell.

Many had poor record-keeping, improper signage and inadequate hygiene.

Some had poisonous substances sitting where non-pharmacists could access them.

The council also shut down an entire illegal drug cluster on Katsina Road called Dalan Gyada.

Officials warned that medicines sold at this cluster cannot be guaranteed to be safe or effective.

The council issued six directives to operators who violated regulations.

All 437 illegal premises identified were sealed in accordance with the law.

Officials urged Kano residents to buy medicines only from premises that have a valid license from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.

A current displayed license is proof that a facility is properly authorised to operate.

The council stressed that buying from unlicensed outlets puts people at risk because there's no guarantee the medicines are real, safe or will actually work.