The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 6,705 illegal pharmaceutical premises and arrested 23 individuals between January 2024 and August 2025 as part of its nationwide enforcement drive to curb unlicensed drug operations and safeguard public health.
This was revealed in the council’s enforcement report, the document provided detailed figures and highlighted the council’s efforts to strengthen the regulation of pharmacy practice across Nigeria.
According to the report, enforcement teams uncovered a wide range of violations during their inspections. These included the “sale of drugs in the open drug market, premises operating without proper registration or valid licences, premises operating illegally, poor documentation, stocking of ethical products, operating without the supervision of a Superintendent Pharmacist, and violation of PCN regulations.”
Other infractions identified were “patent medicine shops selling medicines not on the Approved Patent Medicine List (illegally selling prescription-only medications, such as anti-hypertensives, anti-diabetics, antibiotics, antiulcers, beyond their approved scope), patent medicine shops engaging in unauthorised clinical practices, and premises being operated by a third party or underage persons.”
The proliferation of illegal pharmaceutical premises has long been a serious challenge in Nigeria’s healthcare system. Many of these outlets are run without qualified pharmacists and often sell counterfeit or substandard medications, posing a major threat to public health by increasing the risks of treatment failure, drug resistance, and preventable deaths.
The PCN explained that its enforcement operations aim to combat illegal pharmaceutical practices, address professional misconduct, and protect the integrity of the country’s pharmaceutical supply chain. “Through strategic collaboration with law enforcement and other relevant agencies, the council has achieved significant milestones in its mission to protect the public from quackery and substandard services,” the report stated.
Between January and December 2024, the PCN conducted eight enforcement operations across Gombe, Plateau, Jigawa, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bauchi, Cross River, Kaduna, and Adamawa. During this period, 6,225 premises were inspected, including 887 pharmacies, 2,692 patent medicine shops, and 2,646 illegal shops. Out of these, 4,115 were sealed, comprising 329 pharmacies, 1,140 patent medicine shops, and all 2,646 illegal shops. The council also issued 55 compliance directives and recorded 10 arrests.
From January to August 2025, the council intensified its efforts, conducting four enforcement operations, one surveillance exercise, and one arrest operation across seven states, including the FCT (surveillance), Gombe (arrest), Akwa Ibom, Taraba, Rivers, Bayelsa (joint enforcement), and Niger. During this period, 3,343 premises were inspected, consisting of 937 pharmacies, 2,405 patent medicine shops, and one warehouse. Following inspections, 2,290 premises were sealed, including 500 pharmacies, 1,789 patent medicine shops, and the warehouse. Additionally, 48 compliance directives were issued, and 13 arrests were recorded within the eight months.
A comparison of enforcement data shows a tougher crackdown in 2025 despite fewer inspections. In 2024, 66 percent of visited premises were sealed, while in the first eight months of 2025, the closure rate rose to 68 percent. Arrests also increased by 30 percent, rising from 10 in 2024 to 13 between January and August 2025.
Speaking on the council’s commitment to public health, PCN Registrar, Ibrahim Ahmed, said, “We are committed to upholding excellence in the profession and ensuring the highest standards of practice. In accordance with our mission statement, we will regulate pharmacy practice, promote excellence in pharmacy education and training, and ensure high-quality pharmaceutical production and care to the public through effective monitoring, inspection, enforcement, and implementation of relevant healthcare policies.”
The PCN reaffirmed its dedication to continuing its enforcement activities to rid the country of illegal pharmaceutical outlets and protect Nigerians from harmful drugs and unsafe practices.
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