By Doris Obinna
Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has commended the recent regulatory actions of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) which, led to the sealing of unregistered drug premises across the country.
Association chairman, Ezeh Ambrose and secretary, Mrs. Ashore Omokhafe, hailed the efforts as crucial steps toward sanitising the nation’s drug distribution system and ensuring public health safety.
It further disclosed that a key milestone in these enforcement activities was securing irrevocable commitments from holding companies operating in the Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWC) in Lagos, Aba, and Onitsha. “These agreements set clear timelines for the completion of the CWCs, marking significant progress in the efforts to phase out open drug markets.”
The association urged the Lagos, Anambra, and Abia state governments to provide necessary approvals and infrastructure to facilitate the smooth transition to the new wholesale centres. It particularly appreciated the financial commitments made by the Anambra and Abia states toward the realisation of these centres.
It called on NAFDAC to enforce strict quality control measures on drugs and medical equipment sold in these markets, while urging PCN to ensure compliance with proper storage standards to prevent the degradation of medicines.
ACPN emphasised the need for regulatory action against illegal drug markets still operating in places like Mushin, Agege, and Orile in Lagos, where open sales of pharmaceutical products persist.
The association also reminded authorities of a directive issued in 2018 by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) mandating the relocation of drug markets in Agbeni (Ibadan), Ogbete (Enugu), and Gamboru (Maiduguri) to Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWC).
To sustain recent gains, the ACPN urged PCN and NAFDAC to conduct more frequent raids and surveillance operations at major drug supply points. It called for a firm and uncompromising approach to eliminating illegal drug distribution networks across the country.
The association also pressed for an urgent amendment to the Fake Drug Act by the National Assembly, emphasising the need to formalise collaboration between PCN and NAFDAC. It proposed that federal and state task forces should include pharmaceutical inspection officers and drug/food inspectors to ensure uniform enforcement of regulatory standards nationwide.
In its call for stricter penalties for drug law violators, the ACPN criticized the current sanctions; N500,000 fines and five-year jail terms, as inadequate deterrents. It proposed significantly harsher punishments, including fines between N20 million and N50 million, as well as jail terms of up to 20 years or life imprisonment for those involved in the production and distribution of fake drugs.
The association described these measures as essential to curbing the circulation of counterfeit drugs and other harmful consumables in Nigeria.
