PCN seals 650 Kaduna medicine stores over insecurity 

Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 650 pharmacies and patent medicines outlets in Kaduna State, some of which it alleged were illegally selling substances of abuse to the public, which get to criminals.

The Council’s Registrar, Pharm. Elijah Mohammed, who announced this, while addressing a press conference, said many patent medicine shop owners and other medicine dealers have contributed heavily to the security challenges across the country.

PCN Registrar, represented by the Council’s Director of Enforcement, Pharm. Stephen Esumobi said: “Some of the sealed stores illegally sell substances of abuse to members of the public for financial gains. Some of these substances eventually get into the hands of criminals, who take them as confidence boosters before carrying out their operations.”

Mohammed disclosed that a drug, which ought not to be dispensed over the counter, has found its way into the hands of criminals. “When they use this drug, they become very intoxicated, which enables them to trek hundreds of kilometers, without feeling hungry or any pain.”

He said the PCN enforcement team had been on the field throughout the week visiting Zaria, Kaduna and environs, disclosing that observation revealed that owners of many of the shops sell medicines without regard to laid down guidelines. 

“Many of the patent medicine vendors are either unregistered or registered, but operating far beyond approved scope. Since they do not have the requisite knowledge to handle ethical medicines and substance abuse, the health of members of the public who patronise them is at risk. 

“At the end of the exercise, 923 premises comprising 799 patent and proprietary medicines vendors shops and 124 pharmacies were visited. 650 premises comprising 62 pharmacies and 588 patent medicine vendors shops were sealed.”