By Doris Obinna
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has refuted a television report suggesting that National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) implicated it in the distribution of fake medicines.
In a statement by its Registrar, Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, PCN expressed shock over the report titled “NAFDAC implicates Pharmacy Council of Nigeria in fake medicines,” describing it as a gross misrepresentation of the remarks made by NAFDAC’s Director-General during a press interview aired on March 1, 2025.
The Council insisted that the DG’s comments were misinterpreted and taken out of context, in violation of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which mandates broadcasters to present news factually and fairly.
PCN insisted that at no point did the NAFDAC DG accuse the council of any wrongdoing: “Instead, the interview underscored the complementary roles of both agencies in regulating medicines and combating counterfeit drugs.
“The DG also provided historical context regarding the regulation of Patent and Proprietary Medicines Vendors (PPMVs), highlighting past inconsistencies that contributed to challenges in drug distribution.”
The PCN emphasized its longstanding collaboration with NAFDAC, citing their joint efforts in shutting down illegal drug markets, including the recent closure of the Sabon Gari Open Drug Market in Kano and the relocation of vendors to the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC).
The council further detailed its achievements in tackling unregulated medicine sales, including the closure of over 50,000 illegal drug outlets nationwide.