Pharmacists Accuse Officials of Drug Law Violations

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), led by President Ayuba Ibrahim Tanko, has raised concerns regarding the abuse of drug regulatory laws in Nigeria, particularly in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states. Tanko criticized government officials for unlawfully registering pharmaceutical facilities and chemists, which he stated violates the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act and the amended Fake Drug Act.

He highlighted a significant rise in unregistered pharmaceutical premises, with estimates suggesting that Nigeria has around three million pharmaceutical outlets, but fewer than 50,000 are formally registered. Tanko commended a recent Federal High Court judgment in Ibadan and Calabar against illegal pharmaceutical operations, viewing it as a historic step in combating fake drugs and quackery in Nigeria's healthcare system.

He emphasized the need for stringent regulatory oversight to protect public health and warned that unregulated practices undermine the established legal framework governing pharmaceutical practices in Nigeria.