The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) have mandated operators of open drug markets in Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba to relocate to Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWCs) in their respective states as soon as such facilities are constructed.

This directive follows a landmark ruling by Justice Simon Amobeda of the Kano Federal High Court, which ordered drug marketers in Kano to relocate to the newly completed Dangwauro CWC on Zaria Road.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, NAFDAC Director General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye and PCN Registrar Ibrahim Baba Shehu Ahmed emphasized that the ruling aligns with the PCN Act, which regulates pharmaceutical practice sites.

Adeyeye highlighted that NAFDAC is tasked with ensuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of drugs through regulated distribution and sales channels.

?The relocation order ensures better control of drug distribution and significantly mitigates the prevalence of substandard medicines,? Ahmed said.

In Kano, 1,370 wholesale medicine outlets and packing stores operating in open drug markets were sealed. Owners have been directed to report to the Dangwauro CWC for relocation arrangements.

Ahmed noted that the judgment sets a precedent for open drug market operators in other major cities to comply once their respective CWCs are established.

?This is a significant step toward eradicating substandard and falsified medicines in Nigeria,? he said.

The Registrar added that the PCN Act grants exclusive rights to regulate drug premises, emphasizing that only one CWC can operate per state under Federal Government oversight. This ensures strict compliance with the National Drug Distribution Policy.

The ruling also invalidates plans by the National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers to commission another drug market in Kano. Ahmed clarified that such a move would be illegal as it contravenes the constitutional separation of regulatory responsibilities.

NAFDAC and PCN reiterated their commitment to eliminating substandard and counterfeit drugs in Nigerian markets, with CWCs playing a central role in achieving this goal.

?The fight against substandard medicines will create a healthier population and reduce the burden on consumers,? Adeyeye concluded.(Vanguard)