PCN seals 618 shops in Rivers, Bayelsa over illegal operations

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has shut down 618 pharmaceutical and patent medicine premises in Rivers and Bayelsa States for various violations of the council’s regulations.

Five individuals were also arrested for alleged involvement in illegal pharmaceutical practices.

Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, PCN’s Head of Enforcement, disclosed this during a press briefing held in Port Harcourt on Thursday evening. He explained that of the 618 sealed premises, 178 were pharmacies, 123 were patent medicine shops, and 317 were illegal outlets, while nine others were issued compliance directives.

Chiroma said the offences included running unregistered or illegal shops, failure to renew registration, conducting clinical services unlawfully, and unauthorised handling of controlled medicines. He noted that these activities were in clear violation of the PCN Establishment Act No. 31 of 2022.

The enforcement operation, which lasted one week, covered four local government areas in Rivers State—Port Harcourt, Obio-Akpor, Ikwerre, and Etche—and two LGAs in Bayelsa State—Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw. A total of 867 premises were visited during the exercise, including 344 pharmacies and 523 patent medicine shops.

According to Chiroma, 536 of the sealed premises were located in Rivers State, while 82 were in Bayelsa. He described the situation as alarming, especially the trend in Rivers where controlled medicines were accessed from poison cupboards by non-pharmacists, a practice he described as unethical and dangerous.

He also noted that many premises owners made payments but failed to complete their registration process and still operated illegally.

Chiroma advised residents to only patronize properly registered pharmacies and medicine vendors, which can be identified by the visible display of valid licences. He urged the public to report suspicious or unregistered outlets to the PCN state offices.

The five arrested suspects have been handed over to security agencies for prosecution. Chiroma emphasized that compliance with professional and ethical standards remains vital to safeguarding public health and preserving the integrity of pharmacy practice in Nigeria.