Health
Nigeria has three million illegal drug outlets, says PSN
The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria has raised the alarm over the proliferation of illegal drug outlets across the country, revealing that Nigeria has an estimated three million unregistered pharmaceutical premises, compared with fewer than 50,000 registered outlets.
The society warned that the development poses a major threat to public health and medical safety, as millions of Nigerians could be obtaining drugs from unregulated outlets operating outside the supervision of licensed pharmacists.
The President of the PSN, Ayuba Tanko, disclosed this in a statement sent exclusively to PUNCH Healthwise while commending recent Federal High Court judgments that resulted in the imprisonment of operators of unregistered pharmaceutical outlets, describing the rulings as a major step towards protecting Nigerians from unsafe medicines and unregulated drug dispensing.
Tanko stated that the explosion of illegal drug outlets dates back to the period when the issuance of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors’ licences was delegated to local governments.
“Drug Matters remains an item on the Executive List, and this is grounded on the sensitivity and strategic nature of drugs in the value chain of healthcare.
“Pharmacy practice is the only profession connected to the Exclusive List in the health sector for legislation in Nigeria because drug matters are on the Exclusive List by virtue of being reflected as Item 21 in Part 1 of the 2nd schedule in the 1999 Federal Constitution.
“This is in alignment with what responsible Federal or Central governments do globally because of the ultra-sensitivity involved with drug administration, regulation and control.
“Under the leadership of the late Olikoye Ransom Kuti at the FMOH, the issuance of PPMVL was delegated to LGAs, which implied Nigeria had 774 licensing authorities for the issuance of PPMVL in that era.
“This remains the foundation for the explosion of unregistered pharmaceutical premises in Nigeria, now estimated to be over three million, with less than 50,000 registered premises in Nigeria, inclusive of manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers and PPMVL holders,” he stated.
The PSN president noted that the proliferation of unregistered pharmaceutical facilities undermines drug regulation and exposes consumers to unsafe medicines and unqualified drug dispensers.
The society’s president commended the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria for intensifying enforcement against illegal pharmaceutical operations, particularly following recent convictions secured in Ibadan and Calabar against operators of unregistered drug outlets.
“It is therefore imperative to salute the unrelenting efforts of the registry of the PCN, which has sustained a clampdown on the serial violation of safety of regulatory laws at the detriment of public health safety,” the PSN president said.
The Federal High Court in Ibadan sentenced an unregistered operator of a patent medicine shop on May 26, 2026, while the Federal High Court in Calabar jailed the operator of an unregistered pharmacy and three others for operating an unlicensed pharmaceutical premises and engaging unregistered personnel to dispense medicines.
Tanko stressed that drug regulation remains on Nigeria’s Exclusive Legislative List because of the sensitive role medicines play in healthcare delivery and public safety.
He noted that pharmacy practice is the only profession in the health sector directly linked to the Exclusive List due to the strategic importance of drug administration, regulation and control.
The PSN further highlighted the role of Superintendent Pharmacists in ensuring safety of medicines and regulatory compliance in pharmaceutical premises.
Under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act 2022, every pharmaceutical premises is required to operate under the direct supervision of a Superintendent Pharmacist responsible for overseeing professional standards, regulatory compliance, medicine sourcing, storage, dispensing and patient counselling.
Tanko stated that Superintendent Pharmacists help safeguard the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain by ensuring medicines are sourced from licensed suppliers, properly stored, authentic, and fit for use. They are also responsible for responding to drug safety alerts and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
The PSN president warned that allowing unqualified persons to stock and dispense medicines in both private and public health facilities could endanger patients and compromise healthcare outcomes.
He therefore called on the National Assembly to amend existing drug laws, particularly provisions relating to penalties for offences under the Fake Drug Act, arguing that weak sanctions continue to encourage violations.
“Those who pervert the PCN Act 2022 and Section 2 of the Fake Drug Act in private and public facilities where non-pharmacy-based departments not only stock but also dispense drugs under the watch of hospital management teams in these public health facilities must be made to face justice,” the society’s president stated.
The PSN boss maintained that stronger enforcement of pharmaceutical regulations and tougher penalties for offenders are necessary to protect Nigerians from unsafe medicines and preserve public confidence in the country’s drug distribution system.
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
