Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 342 premises in Ogun State over non-compliance with standard and other offences.
The sealed premises which included 26 pharmacies and 316 patent medicine shops were sanctioned by the PCN during an enforcement exercise in Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ijebu Ode, Mowe, Ibafo, Ilaro and other locations around the state.
Addressing newsmen at the end of the exercise, the Director and Head of Enforcement Department of the Council, Stephen Esemobi, explained that the affected premises were sealed for offences such as operating without registration or renewal of premises certificates, unauthorized sale substances of abuse, poor storage conditions, unauthorized training of apprentices among others.
He disclosed that the PCN in its efforts to sanitize the drug distribution system in Nigeria, the enforcement team embarked on operations, adding that at the end of the exercise, a total of 646 premises were visited for compliance inspection.
Esumobi added that a total of 19 compliance directive were issued, while one person was arrested for fraudulently collecting money meant for premises registration and renewal from stakeholders, during the exercise.
While saying that the sealed premises would be reopened after operators of such pharmacies and patent medicine stores meet with the standard procedure of the PCN, he urged members of the public to source all drug need from registered and currently licensed pharmacies and over-the-countee medicines for registered patent medicine shops.
Esumobi, however, expressed the Council’s gratitude to the Ogun State Ministry of Health and security agencies as well as the media, for their countinous support and collaboration.