Pharmacy Council Seals 397 Medicine Outlets in Oyo Over Illegal Drug Practices
Mass enforcement exercise uncovers widespread non-compliance, unlicensed pharmacies and unsafe medicine distribution
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria has sealed 397 pharmaceutical premises in Oyo State for violations including illegal operations, lack of registration, and unsafe handling of medicines during a statewide enforcement operation.
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria has sealed 397 medicine outlets in Oyo State following a major enforcement operation that uncovered widespread breaches in pharmaceutical regulations, including illegal medicine handling and non-registration of premises.
The Head of Department of Enforcement, Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the Council’s zonal office in Ibadan, stating that the exercise was carried out under the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG).
He explained that the guidelines require all medicines to be distributed strictly through approved channels, from manufacturers and importers down to end users, in order to ensure safety and accountability in the drug supply chain.
Chiroma said the enforcement operation aims to eliminate unsafe practices, remove unqualified actors from the pharmaceutical sector, and address weak storage systems contributing to the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines.
He added that the initiative aligns with broader health reforms and Nigeria’s push toward achieving Universal Health Coverage, noting that access to safe and quality medicines remains critical to effective healthcare delivery.
According to him, the operation covered 13 local government areas in Oyo State, including Ona Ara, Oluyole, Ibadan North, Akinyele, Lagelu, Egbeda, Ido, Ogbomoso South, Iseyin, Afijio, Ogbomoso North, Oyo West, and Oyo East.
A total of 590 premises were inspected, comprising pharmacies, patent medicine vendors, and illegal outlets. Out of these, 397 premises were sealed, including 60 pharmacies, 81 patent medicine stores, and all 256 illegal outlets identified during the exercise.
Chiroma revealed that 42 per cent of the premises visited were illegal, describing the figure as a serious public health concern and evidence of regulatory gaps at the sub-national level.
He also noted that only 36 per cent of inspected pharmacies were fully compliant, adding that several operators failed to complete proper registration despite paying statutory fees.
The sealed outlets were found guilty of various infractions, including operating without valid licences, unauthorised clinical practices, overstocking restricted medicines, and improper storage of drugs in prohibited containers.
Chiroma warned that such violations pose serious risks, including drug abuse, poisoning, addiction, and the circulation of unsafe medicines.
He reiterated that all premises involved in medicine handling would remain under strict regulatory oversight, stressing that Nigerians deserve access to safe and quality-assured drugs dispensed only by licensed professionals.
The Council urged residents to patronise only registered pharmacies and verify certification details displayed at approved outlets, while commending public cooperation during the enforcement exercise.
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