Lagos shuts 40 Illegal drug stores

Officials of the Lagos State Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods has sealed no fewer than 40 illegal drugs stores in Alapere, Magodo and Ikosi-Isheri environs at Kosofe and Ikosi-Isheri Local Government Area and Local Council Development Area of the state.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Yewande Adeshina, who disclosed this at weekend, explained 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 unauthorized and unregistered drug and pharmaceutical outlets.

Adeshina noted that the affected shops were sealed off for offences ranging from sale of drugs without license 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.

This is even as she listed the sealed drug stores to include Viewland Pharmaceutical Ltd at No 5, Palace Street, Ogudu; Goodhealth Supermarket at No 13, Agboyi road, Ogudu; E. Emodobi Patent Medicine store at No 15, Old Olowora Street, Isheri; Max Supermarket and Medicine store at No 23, Agboyi road, Ogudu; Sadus Pharmacy at No 51, Olowora road, Ogudu; Festina Pharmacy Ltd at No 2, Ogun River road, Isheri; Celens Pharmacy at Isheri Market Plaza and Spacon Healthcare at No 19, Ogudu road, among others.

Others include Tolex Pharmaceutical Ltd at No 44, Ikosi road, Ketu; Amexco Pharmacy at No 1, Ikosi road, Ketu; Igba Stores at No 11, Oluyombo Street, Ikosi; Mr Kelechi store at No 10 Odun Street, Ikosi; Ademola Ologunagba at No 31,Oluwalogbon Street, Ikosi; Benkeson Pharmaceutical at No 16, Anibaba street, Ikosi; Danest stores at No 17, Jimoh Balogun street Ikosi; Patent Medicine store at No 6, Dairo street, Ikosi and two unnamed stores at Nos 73,Oluyombo and 35, Jimoh Balogun streets.

Adeshina wondered why 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 outline the requirements for the registration and renewal of pharmaceutical premises, culpability and punishment for offenders.

Source: Dailyindependent