The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 300 illegal drug outlets in Yobe state, a four-day enforcement exercise that exposed widespread regulatory violations, including the diversion of controlled substances into criminal networks.

The operation, which covered 10 local government areas, including Damaturu, Potiskum, Nguru, and Fune, inspection of 601 facilities, resulted in the closure of 430 premises, comprising 20 licensed pharmacies, 110 patent medicine stores, and 300 unregistered outlets.

Addressing journalists on Friday in Damaturu, the Head of PCN Enforcement, Suleiman S. Chiroma, revealed that 50 per cent of all premises visited were operating illegally, with unregistered outlets accounting for 70 per cent of sealed facilities.

The Council, according to him, identified critical violations, including unauthorised handling of controlled medicines, poor storage conditions, and the dangerous practice of training unqualified apprentices to dispense drugs.

Chiroma warned that these practices directly contributed to antimicrobial resistance, treatment failures, drug abuse, and the diversion of controlled substances into criminal hands.

“We found that only 6% of the 601 premises visited are registered pharmacies, an alarming deficit in pharmaceutical care across Yobe State,” he said.

He further noted that the PCN registrar, Pharm. Ibrahim Baba Shehu Ahmed, reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to universal health coverage and vowed decisive enforcement action against all violators.

“The public has been advised to purchase medicines exclusively from licensed premises where valid licenses are prominently displayed,” the registrar said.