The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), in collaboration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), has sealed 1,321 medicine stores in Kano State.
The NAFDAC director of investigation and enforcement, Mr Francis Ononiwu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Kano on Monday.
“We sealed 1,321 medicine stores in Sabon Gari Market, Mallam Kato Square and Niger Street between February 17 and 18.
“This is in line with our regulatory function of enforcement and to ensure that only quality drugs are in circulation.
“The enforcement action was to ensure medical dealers relocate to the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) in Dangwauro, along Zaria Road Kano,” he said.
He stressed the need to sanitise the drug distribution system in the country, saying if drugs were not kept in cooling premises they would degrade into poisonous substances.
He noted that most of the drug-selling premises visited were operating in an unventilated environment.
He urged medicine dealers to see their relocation as the survival of public health and as part of the effort to continue to fight against substandard drugs.