CORRECTION OF MISLEADING REPORT BY AIT

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has taken notice of a misleading report by Africa
Independent Television (AIT) with the headline “NAFDAC IMPLICATES PHARMACY COUNCIL OF NIGERIA IN FAKE MEDICINES”. This headline is a gross misrepresentation
of the information conveyed during a press interview by the Director-General of the
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) aired on
Saturday, 1 March, 2025.
Every attentive listener with proper understanding of the communication by
the DG will realise that AIT has erred. This unfortunate action of the television
station contradicts the Nigeria Broadcasting Code (6th Edition, 2016), specifically
Section 5.0, subsection 5.1.2:
“A Broadcaster shall present news as factual and in a correct and fair manner
without:
a. Distortions, exaggerations or misrepresentations;
b. Material omissions; or
c. Interpretations”
Only a biased listener will agree with this headline bar which clearly contradicts the
voice message. The headline bar presents a distorted version of the information
conveyed by the NAFDAC DG.
The PCN is taken aback by the unprofessional act from one of the foremost television
station such as AIT in this misrepresentation of facts. We expect an immediate
retraction and a public apology.
For emphasis, in the said press interview, the content of which is available in public
domain, the DG clearly did not in any way implicate the PCN in any wrongdoing
whatsoever. Apart from highlighting the complementary role of both agencies, the DG
further delved into the historical perspective of how the Patent and Proprietary
Medicines Vendors (PPMVs), which was created by statute to be a stop-gap to provide
over-the-counter medicines in underserved areas, later became a problem as a result of
the inconsistencies in the delegation of authority for regulating the PPMVs, as well as
litigations that followed same.
The PCN clearly appreciates the collaborative relationship with NAFDAC, which resulted
in the closure of the Sabon Gari Open Drug Market in Kano and the relocation of same
to the Coordinated Wholesales Centre (CWC). Let it be on record that the establishment
of CWC, being an alternative facility where the marketers are moved to, rests squarely
with the PCN. The Council has never relented in pursuing this goal jointly with NAFDAC.
Putting the DG’s interview in proper perspective, it can only be appropriately
interpreted as the DG recognising that the Open Drug Market ought not to have been
created in the first instance, except for the removal of regulation of the PPMVs from
PCN at various times during which it was given to the States and later to the 774 local
government councils. All these anomalies of the past led to the degradation of the system, even before the authority was finally reverted to PCN by the Federal
Government.
Many took advantage of the situation during the era that the inconsistencies existed
and erroneously assumed that medicine vending is a form of trade and means of
livelihood, thereby ushering in the chaotic situation that persisted for a long time. This
was in addition to a myriad of litigations at the instance of the medicine vendors, which
were finally tackled by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria in 2017, after which the Council
resumed full-scale enforcement on illegal shops and premises. It is worthy of note that
the passage of the PCN Act 2022 and regulations made thereunder contributed in no
small measure in strengthening the pharmaceutical regulatory process in the country.
Between then and now, our enforcement activity has led to the closure of over 50,000
illegal medicine facilities, in addition to the closure of Sabon Gari Open Drug Market
where 1,321 illegal premises were dislodged, as well as the closure of Gombe Open
Drug Market and Kaduna, singlehandedly by PCN. PCN is also closely collaborating with
NAFDAC in the ongoing enforcement to ensure compliance with regulatory standards in
the Open Drug Markets in Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba.
The PCN plays a critical role in the promotion of public health at all times. Only last
week, our officers embarked on a comprehensive surveillance operation in the FCT
during which they visited 230 Estates to close down all illegal premises and 3 PPMV s in
these locations. We will continue to work collaboratively with NAFDAC and other
stakeholders to achieve this goal. Our distinct but complementary mandates are critical
in ensuring the safety and well-being of the Nigerian public. While NAFDAC is
responsible for drug registration and product quality, the PCN is responsible for
regulating and controlling of the training and practice of pharmacy in all aspects and
ramifications, including pharmacy technicians and patent and proprietary medicines
vendors.
We urge the general public to disregard this misrepresentation of facts by AIT and to
have recourse to the interview granted by the DG NAFDAC. We believe that DG NAFDAC
will clarify the misinformation from AIT. While we appreciate the fact that we are
worthy partners with AIT, we call on it to issue an immediate and prominent retraction
and correction of the misleading headline and report. We also demand a public apology,
at the same level of prominence, for the damage caused to PCN’s reputation by the
misrepresentation.
The public is hereby assured that the PCN remains committed to transparency and
accountability in its operations and will continue to work tirelessly to ensure public
health and safety in the provision of pharmaceutical services. We urge the media to
uphold the highest standards of accuracy and fairness in their reporting in accordance
with the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, particularly on matters of public health.
Signed:

Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, FPSN, FPCPharm, FCAI, FNAPharm
Registrar/CEO
Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN)