The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 471 pharmaceutical premises in Edo State following a week-long enforcement exercise aimed at curbing illegal and substandard practices in the drug distribution sector.
At a press briefing held on Friday at the PCN State Office in the Federal Secretariat, Benin City, the council’s Head of Enforcement, Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, said the exercise covered Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, Ovia North-East, Egor, and Uhunmwonde local government areas.
A total of 743 premises were inspected, including 196 pharmacies and 547 patent medicine shops.
Out of these, 471 were sealed for offences ranging from operating without valid licenses to non-renewal of registration, unauthorized clinical activities, and poor handling of controlled substances.
The breakdown showed that 77 pharmacies, 174 patent medicine stores, and 220 unlicensed outlets were affected.
Four other premises were issued compliance directives, while one individual was arrested for obstructing enforcement officers.
Dr. Chiroma stressed that the action was taken in line with the PCN’s mandate under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act No. 31 of 2022, which empowers the agency to regulate and oversee pharmacy practice and training nationwide.
He added that the crackdown was part of PCN’s ongoing commitment to sanitizing the pharmaceutical space and safeguarding public health.
