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From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
The Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) has rejected allegations by the Chairman of the Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse accusing it of shielding drug peddlers and enabling the distribution of controlled drugs in the state.
A statement signed by Hasiya Ladan, a Consultant Pharmacist, described the accusations as untrue and baseless, regretting that they were capable of undermining the activities of federal drug regulatory agencies in the state.
Muhuyi Magaji, Chairman of the state multi-agency task force on drugs, had, during a conference at the weekend, accused the PCN and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of protecting individuals allegedly involved in illicit drug distribution and other controlled drugs.
The Chairman had equally accused the PCN of registering a pharmaceutical outlet on Apple Avenue, Sabon-Garri, Kano, lamenting that the said outlet was being used for the distribution of illicit drugs.
However, in its denial, the PCN reminded the task force Chairman that the regulation of pharmaceutical premises was within its statutory responsibility, as contained in its Establishment Act (2022).
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The PCN also cited constitutional provisions and a Supreme Court judgment to buttress its regulatory powers over pharmaceutical premises, adding that the regulation of drugs and poisons fell under the Exclusive Legislative List of the Federal Government.
The PCN also insisted that the issuance of import licences to pharmaceutical companies fell within its regulatory responsibility, while NAFDAC was responsible for the issuance of product permits, specifying the categories and quantities of drugs approved for importation.
The PCN noted that current regulations did not automatically bar pharmaceutical outlets in residential areas, provided they met the statutory criteria. It therefore challenged the task force Chairman to provide the specific sections of the Land Use Act that had been breached by the registration of the premises.
On the issue of the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC), the PCN explained that the initiative was introduced by the Federal Government to relocate identified and verified drug vendors operating in open markets, adding that the initiative did not stop independent pharmaceutical wholesalers, importers, distributors and warehouse operators from establishing separate facilities for their businesses.
On the allegation that PCN officials were facilitating the illicit drug business, the PCN challenged the task force Chairman to provide concrete evidence to back the claim or, alternatively, to submit a formal complaint of misconduct against any of its officials for investigation.
On enforcement, the PCN stressed that its national enforcement team had visited 11 states in Nigeria, including Kano State, in April and September 2026, adding that, during the visits, it inspected a total of 9,908 pharmaceutical outlets and sealed 6,838 outlets for various violations. In Kano State alone, it inspected 2,304 outlets and sealed 1,631, while 15 were still being investigated.
