PCN Raises Alarm Over Illegal Sale Of Tramadol, Rohypnol In Bauchi, Seals 722 Outlets

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 722 pharmacies, patent and proprietary medicine vendor (PPMV) shops and illegal drug outlets across 14 local government areas of Bauchi State over various regulatory violations.

The affected local government areas are Bauchi, Darazo, Gamawa, Kirfi, Alkaleri, Toro, Misau, Katagum, Tafawa Balewa, Bogoro, Dass, Ningi, Warji and Jama’are.

The head of the PCN enforcement department, Suleiman S. Chiroma, disclosed this while addressing a press conference yesterday at the end of a four-day enforcement exercise in the state.

Chiroma said the team inspected 950 premises during the operation, comprising 92 pharmacies, 527 patent medicine shops, and 331 illegal outlets.

He explained that 722 premises were sealed, including 52 pharmacies, 339 patent medicine shops and all 331 illegal outlets. The council also issued 24 compliance directives to operators.

According to him, illegal outlets accounted for approximately 46 per cent of all premises sealed during the exercise.

He said 43 per cent of the pharmacies inspected complied fully with regulatory standards, while 36 per cent of the patent and proprietary medicine vendor outlets met the required standards.

Chiroma stressed that all 331 illegal premises identified during the operation were sealed in accordance with the law.

He expressed concern over the low number of pharmacies among the premises inspected, noting that they accounted for only about 10 percent of the 950 facilities visited.

“Every premises or shop involved in the handling, storage and dispensing of medicines will henceforth be under strict and sustained regulatory supervision,” he said.

Chiroma said the enforcement team discovered several violations, including the operation of pharmaceutical premises without registration and the stocking of restricted medicines by patent medicine vendors.

He explained that many PPMV shops were found stocking prescription-only medicines, injectables and intravenous infusions contrary to the provisions of the Approved Patent Medicine List.

Other violations included poor record-keeping, improper signage, unhygienic environments, unrestricted access to poisons by unauthorised persons and the unauthorised training of apprentices.

The council also expressed concern over the illegal sale of controlled medicines for abuse, particularly in the Bayan Gari area of Bauchi metropolis.

Among the controlled substances recovered during the exercise were Flunitrazepam, commonly known as Rohypnol; Diazepam, also known as Valium; Tramadol Hydrochloride, sold under the brand name Tramal; and codeine-containing cough syrups.

Chiroma said the sale of such controlled medicines by PPMVs was expressly prohibited by law.

The PCN is the federal government agency statutorily mandated to regulate pharmacy education, training and practice, including the activities of pharmacy technicians and patent and proprietary medicine vendors.

Chiroma said the council had commenced a structured and phased enforcement programme in line with the Federal Government’s National Drug Policy and the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG), aimed at sanitising Nigeria’s drug distribution system.

He said the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the council, Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, had directed the continuation of enforcement exercises across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

According to him, several states have already been covered this year, while the exercise remains ongoing.

“The enforcement is focused on identifying, correcting and sealing premises operating outside the provisions of the law, with a view to ensuring total adherence to the National Drug Distribution Guidelines,” he said.

Chiroma explained that the exercise was directly linked to the objectives of the National Drug Policy, which seeks to ensure the availability of safe, effective, affordable and quality medicines for all Nigerians.

He added that removing unlicensed and non-compliant premises from the drug distribution chain would help protect public health, prevent the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines, and ensure that drugs were handled, stored and dispensed by qualified personnel in approved facilities.

He identified the major objectives of the exercise as curbing the unauthorised sale and distribution of prescription-only and controlled medicines, ensuring that pharmaceutical premises were operated by qualified personnel, enforcing compliance with the approved scope of practice for PPMVs and eliminating illegal drug outlets.

The council warned that violations of existing laws and regulations would attract prompt and appropriate sanctions.

It advised members of the public to obtain medicines exclusively from premises licensed by the PCN.

“The public is advised to obtain medicines exclusively from premises licensed by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria. A valid and current licence must be displayed by every licensed facility as proof of authorisation to operate,” the council said.

The PCN also expressed appreciation to the Bauchi state government and residents for their cooperation and support during the enforcement exercise.

It emphasised that sustained collaboration with stakeholders was essential to ensuring continuous access to safe, effective and quality-assured medicines