The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has closed 67 pharmaceutical establishments in Lagos State due to illegal operations and non-compliance with regulatory standards.
Naija News understands that the enforcement action, conducted on June 16 and 17, 2025, is part of the council’s continuous efforts to purify the pharmaceutical sector and safeguard public health against the threats posed by quackery and the distribution of unregulated medicines.
During a press conference at the PCN Lagos Zonal Office in Yaba, Dr. Taiwo Filusi, the Director of the Lagos Zonal Office, stated that this crackdown resulted from a thorough inspection of 89 pharmaceutical establishments in various regions of the state.
He mentioned that the enforcement team inspected areas including Mushin, Oshodi, Bariga, Shomolu, Gbagada, Oworoshoki, Ifako, Pedro, Amuwo, Mazamaza, Satellite Town, Afromedia, Iyana Iba, and Okokomaiko.
Out of the 89 establishments examined, 67 were sealed due to multiple violations.
These violations comprised 48 illegal medicine outlets, 17 pharmacies, and two patent medicine shops.
Filusi also disclosed that 11 additional establishments received compliance directives for minor infractions that did not necessitate immediate closure.
He pointed out that many affected establishments were operating without proper registration, neglecting to renew their licenses, stocking medicines beyond the approved limits for patent stores, managing controlled substances without authorization, and functioning without the oversight of licensed pharmacists.
Additional violations included inadequate storage of medicines and employing unqualified personnel to dispense pharmaceuticals.
The PCN director described the proliferation of illegal drug shops as a major public health threat, stressing that the improper handling of medicines can result in self-medication, treatment failures, antimicrobial resistance, and, in severe cases, death.
He noted that medicines are not ordinary commodities and must be managed within a controlled, professional environment.
“Medicines require careful handling, professional knowledge, and ethical responsibility. The uncontrolled operation of drug outlets fuels drug misuse and endangers lives. The Pharmacy Council will not tolerate any form of illegality within the pharmaceutical space,” he warned.
He added that the enforcement exercise was conducted in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
He warned that anyone caught breaking the seals on closed premises or continuing operations defying the law would face prosecution.
“The PCN Registrar and management have a zero-tolerance stance against illegal medicine outlets. We are determined to ensure that only qualified professionals handle medicines, and only duly registered premises are allowed to operate. Offenders will face the full wrath of the law,” he stated.
Filusi commended the support received from security agencies and the general public, urging residents to continue reporting suspicious pharmaceutical practices to the nearest PCN office. He reiterated the council’s commitment to ensuring that all medicines in circulation are safe, effective, and professionally managed.
In a show of solidarity, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, applauded the PCN for what it described as a landmark action in the ongoing fight against fake drug outlets.
The Lagos PSN Chairman, Pharm. Babayemi Oyekunle praised the exercise as a decisive step in restoring public trust in the healthcare system and safeguarding the health of Lagosians.
“This enforcement exercise is not just an administrative measure; it is a bold statement of our collective commitment to public health. Illegal drug outlets are a danger to society. They dispense counterfeit and substandard medicines and erode the confidence people have in our healthcare institutions,” Oyekunle said.
The Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, Pharm. Tolulope Ajayi, also voiced his endorsement of the crackdown, indicating that the unregulated distribution of medicines is a major factor in health crises, including treatment failures and the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance.
Ajayi emphasized that in the absence of adequate supervision, medications can easily turn harmful instead of beneficial, particularly when provided without professional oversight.
He asserted that this operation would contribute to lowering mortality rates and complications resulting from the improper use of pharmaceuticals.
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