Ramatu Garba
The National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC) in collaboration with Pharmacist Council of Nigeria(PCN) has sealed over 750 medicine stores over alleged breach of its operation regulations in Kano.
It will be recalled that a Federal High Court Kano, on Feb.16, ordered the Medicine dealers to relocate to the approved Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) in Kano Economic City, Dangwauro, along Zaria Road.
Addressing newsmen, the Director Investigation and Enforcement NAFDAC, Mr Francis Ononiwu, said the operation was to ensure medical dealers relocate to Coordinated wholesale centre(CWC).
The sealed medicine stores are located at Mallam Kato Square,Niger Street and Sabon Gari Market Kano.
“We are here to enforce the ruling of the court to relocate to CWC where the regulatory agencies NAFDAC, PCN, NDLEA and Police are suppose to oversea medical products.
“The regulatory agencies would ensure only products that are approved and meet international standard can be sold, that is why the dealers are shying away from the centre.
“CWC is a place created for medicine to be sold, due to haphazard distribution channel of medicine in Nigeria that is what gave rise to proliferation of fake counterfeit and unwholesome drugs.
He said medicine are supposed to be sold in facilities approved by PCN and stored in premises that will not make the medicine to degrade.
“Investigation revealed that some of this medicine outlet smuggle narcotics products illegally.
“Fake products and banned products such as codeine syrup and tramadol that are not suppose to be in circulation are found in facilities that are not approved”
On his part, the Director Enforcement Pharmacist Council of Nigeria, Mr Stephen Esumobi, said over 750 medicine stores and Warehouses were operating illegally from 2019 to date.
” In 2019 we sealed this medicine stores and they signed an undertaking to relocate to the CWC within seven months.
“Instead of complying with the regulations they choose to go to court and the court ruled against them.
Esumobi said that PCN investigation revealed that most of the medicine dealers already have shops in CWC they just refuse to relocate.
