FG Seals 160 Drug Shops in Akwa Ibom

Okon  Bassey  in  Uyo

The Federal Government has closed down 160 drug shops in Akwa Ibom State for dispensing poisons and engaging in other unauthorised services to members of the public.

The Deputy Director and Head of Enforcement, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Abuja, Stephen Esumobi announced this on Friday while briefing Journalists after a one week visit of the enforcement teams of the Council to the state.

He said those whose shops had been closed down had earlier been warned that any of them that breached the law would be prosecuted.

“Our enforcement teams have been in Akwa Ibom State since the beginning of this week. The teams were in the state capital and 17 local government areas which include Uruan, Itu, Abak, Oruk Anam, Ukanafun, Mkpat Enim, Ikot Abasi, Etim Ekpo, Onna, Etinam, Eket, Esit Eket, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ibium, Ikot Ekpene, Ibiono Ibom and Ikono.

“While the level of compliance by premises in the state capital is encouraging, this cannot be said of most premises in the local government areas. It was observed that so many premises commenced operations without following the laid down guidelines.

“Many of the premises are located in environments that are not conducive for the sale of medicines, so many others failed to meet minimum requirements for storage and personnel thus exposing members of the public to dangers of consuming medicines whose quality, safety and efficacy cannot be guaranteed.

“At the end of the enforcement exercise, a total number of 284 premises were visited. 160 of them comprising five pharmacies and 155 patent medicine shops were sealed”, he said.

According to him, their offences ranged from dispensing poisons without the supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage conditions, selling medicines above the approved list for patent medicine vendors, non-registration of premises with the PCN, among others.

He explained that the PCN being a federal government parastatal was charged with the responsibility to regulate and control the education, training and practice of pharmacy in all its aspects and ramifications as established by Pharmacists Council of Nigeria Act Cap p17, LFN, 2004.

The PCN Director warned that anyone wishing to start a pharmacy or patent medicine shop should apply for location approval, maintaining that not every location was suitable for the sale of medicines.

“One of the core mandates of the PCN is ensuring rational distribution and dispensing of medicines that are safe, effective and of good quality.", he said
“The PCN is using this medium to sensitise all stakeholders to follow the laws that regulate the sale of medicines in Nigeria as the PCN will not tolerate the sale of medicines without submission to regulatory control”, Esumobi stressed.