Task Force seals 14 illegal drug stores, arrests four

The Lagos State Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods on Monday sealed no fewer than 14 illegal drugs stores and arrested four of their operators at Ebute-Metta and Oyingbo, Mainland Local Government Area, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, has disclosed.
 Idris explained that the exercise was necessitated by the excesses of illegal drug operators in that area of the state and in continuation of the Task Force’s mandate to sanitise the drug distribution system in Lagos State.

The commissioner listed the affected drug stores as including Mekan Investment located at 100, Cemetery Road, Ebute Metta; Astranad Pharmacy at 42, Oloto Street, Ebute Metta; Benito Store at 47, Kano Street, Ebute Metta; More and More Stores, 68, Jebba Street, Ebute Metta; and drug stores located at 56, Kano Street; 44, Bola Street; and 7, Ondo Street all in Ebute Metta.
 Others are Natural Beauty and Medicine Store, 25, Muritala Mohammed Way and Japheto Pharmacy Ltd located at 19, Muritala Mohammed Way both in Oyingbo; market and drug stores located at 103, Lagos Street, 17, Cemetery Street, 42, Bola Street and 9, Odunfa Street all in Ebute-Metta.
 Idris said: “The affected shops were sealed off for offences ranging from sales of drugs without licence from the regulatory authority; failure to relocate from a market area and adherence to the mandated distance between a patent medicine shop and market place as stipulated by the law; and sales of counterfeit and fake drugs amongst others.”
According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Jide Lawal, Idris noted that government’s resolve to streamline the activities of operators in the drug sector was borne out of its zeal to stop the inherent dangers associated with the peddling of fake, substandard and expired drugs by unauthorised and unregistered drug and pharmaceutical outlets.
 The commissioner averred that by the provision of the pharmaceutical laws, pharmaceutical premises cannot be located in motor parks and environments where commercial activities take place like market places, kiosks, road-side stores and containers, adding that the law also frowns at pharmaceutical stores standing and growing very close together.
 The commissioner wondered why the people still chose to stay on the wrong side of the law, adding that the provisions of the law as stipulated by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria Act of 1992 and the Registration of Pharmaceutical Premises Regulation Law of 2005 outlinethe requirements for registration and renewal of pharmaceutical premises, culpability and punishment for offenders.
 Idris advised anybody interested in selling medicine to liaise with the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate Unit of the Ministry of Health, the legitimate authorising body for Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors License, located on the ground floor of Block 8, Old Secretariat, Ikeja, just as he similarly urged those interested in importation, distribution and sales of drugs to get their premises licensed by the appropriate authority, the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria.
 The raid was conducted in conjunction with the PSN, the PCN, the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control, the PIC and officers of the Nigeria Police Force from the Lagos State Command.