The Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) has closed down 3,000 open drugs markets responsible for the distribution of illicit drugs and arrested at least10 people in connection with illicit drugs across the country.
Registrar of the Council, Pharm Ibrahim Ahmed Baba Shehu, stated this, Wednesday in Minna.
He said that the Council has put in place measures to sanitise drugs markets by closing all sources of open drugs facilities to curb the menace of illicit drugs in the country.
The Registrar said Council has within a period of seven months effected the closure of open drugs markets in Sabon Gari, Kano; Idumota in Lagos and Under Bridge in Onitsha.
According to him, ” I can assure you that we are not only closing down these open drugs markets but we are replacing them with regulated facilities where drugs would be properly stored, handled and sold to retailers. And this is where we are talking about coordinated wholesale centres.”
He explained that the coordinated wholesale facility in Kano has been completed, adding that it would be opened in June or July this year, while that of Lagos is in progress.
While receiving the members of the Council in a courtesy visit, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state stressed the need for effective enforcement of regulations on dispensation of drugs especially those prohibited on open carter unless on prescription.
He lamented that quack pharmacists have been responsible for the sale of illicit drugs to youths in the state.
He said, “this is very disturbing, it has also affected the security of our state.”
