PCN seals 26 pharmacies, 316 patent medicine shops in Ogun

By Kolawole Olayinka, Abeokuta

Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 342 premises across the three senatorial district 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 of substances of abuse, poor storage conditions, unauthorized training of apprentices among others.

He disclosed that PCN, in its efforts to sanitize the drug distribution system in Nigeria, the enforcement team embarked on the operations, adding that at the end of the exercise, 646 premises were visited for compliance inspection.

Esumobi added that 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 their operators meet with the standard procedure of the PCN, he urged members of the public to source all drug need from registered and licensed pharmacies and over-the-counter 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 continuous support and collaboration.