PCN Seals 733 Pharmaceutical Premises in Delta State, Including 339 Illegal Outlets

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 733 pharmaceutical premises in Delta State following a four-day enforcement exercise across five local government areas, as the council intensifies efforts to enforce medicine distribution regulations and address the operation of unauthorised medicine outlets.

The enforcement exercise, which involved the inspection of 930 premises, covered Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Ika North-East, Ika South and Ndokwa West local government areas. The exercise identified 339 illegal outlets, alongside pharmacies and patent and proprietary medicine vendor (PPMV) premises that failed to meet applicable regulatory requirements.

Speaking at a media briefing in Asaba on 24 September, PCN Head of Enforcement, Suleiman Chiroma, said the operation was part of the council’s structured, phased enforcement programme to sanitise Nigeria’s drug distribution system and ensure compliance with the National Drug Distribution Guidelines.

733 Premises Sealed Following Inspection

According to figures disclosed by the council, the enforcement team inspected 191 pharmacies, 400 patent medicine stores and 339 illegal outlets during the exercise.

Of the 930 premises inspected, 733 were sealed. These comprised 81 pharmacies, 313 patent medicine stores and all 339 illegal outlets identified during the operation.

The council also issued seven compliance directives to premises requiring corrective action. The reported figures indicate that illegal outlets accounted for approximately 46.2 per cent of the premises sealed, while the remaining closures involved pharmacies and patent medicine stores.

The PCN further reported that 58 per cent of the pharmacies inspected were fully compliant with regulatory standards. Compliance was lower among patent medicine vendor outlets, with 22 per cent reported to have met the required standards.

Enforcement Targets Illegal Medicine Distribution

The PCN said the exercise was intended to address the unauthorised sale and distribution of ethical and controlled medicines, ensure that pharmaceutical premises are operated by appropriately qualified personnel and reinforce compliance with the approved scope of practice for patent medicine vendors.

The council’s enforcement activities form part of its responsibility for regulating the training, registration and practice of pharmacists, as well as the registration and licensing of pharmaceutical premises and patent medicine vendors.

Under the National Drug Distribution Guidelines, medicine distribution is expected to operate through authorised channels, with regulatory oversight intended to reduce the risks associated with unlicensed medicine outlets and inappropriate handling of pharmaceutical products.

The PCN said the enforcement programme would continue across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, following a directive by its Registrar, Ibrahim Ahmed, to sustain regulatory supervision and enforcement.

Only Five of Delta’s 25 LGAs Covered

Although the exercise resulted in the sealing of 733 premises, the operation covered only five of Delta State’s 25 local government areas.

This means that the reported findings represent the areas inspected and should not be interpreted as a complete assessment of regulatory compliance across the state.

The proportion of compliant pharmacies and patent medicine vendor outlets also points to differences in compliance across the categories of premises inspected. The figures underline the importance of routine regulatory inspections, professional supervision and continued engagement with medicine vendors.

The PCN warned that premises involved in the handling, storage and dispensing of medicines would remain subject to regulatory oversight, adding that violations of applicable laws and regulations could attract enforcement sanctions.

Implications for Medicine Safety and Pharmacy Practice

The operation highlights the regulatory challenges associated with medicine distribution, particularly where unlicensed outlets and non-compliant premises operate alongside registered pharmaceutical businesses.

For patients, purchasing medicines from authorised premises provides an important safeguard because licensed outlets are subject to regulatory requirements covering their operation and professional oversight. However, licensing alone does not remove the need for appropriate dispensing practices, medicine storage and continued monitoring.

For pharmacists and patent medicine vendors, the exercise reinforces the importance of maintaining valid licences, operating within approved professional and regulatory limits and ensuring that premises meet applicable standards.

The enforcement also raises questions about the extent to which regulatory inspections can be sustained across all local government areas, particularly in communities where access to authorised medicine outlets may be limited.

As the PCN continues its nationwide enforcement programme, effective regulation will require a combination of inspections, compliance support, public awareness and action against illegal medicine distribution.

The council urged members of the public to obtain medicines from PCN-licensed premises and advised operators to display valid licences as evidence of authorisation.

The sealing of 733 premises in Delta State represents a significant enforcement operation within the five local government areas covered. With all 339 identified illegal outlets sealed, the exercise also highlights the continuing presence of unauthorised medicine outlets within the drug distribution system.

The wider challenge for the PCN will be to sustain enforcement across the state while supporting compliance among legitimate operators and ensuring that patients retain access to safe, quality-assured medicines.