The Federal Capital Territory Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee (FCT-PIC) has sealed off 13 illegal patent medicine shops in Durumi, Lugbe, Gwarinpa, Kubwa and Gwagwa areas of the FCT. The shops were sealed off by members of the six-member committee along with other pharmaceutical inspectors, during its recent enforcement activity. Director of Pharmaceutical Services Department of the FCTA and chairperson of the committee, Pharm. Hauwa Kulu Ibrahim, who led the team, explained that some of the facilities were sealed because they were not registered with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN).

Others, according to her, were sealed for selling prescription only medicines and evidence of administering injections, refusal to relocate from market area, poor storage conditions of drugs and poor sanitary conditions of shops and surroundings. Ibrahim said that intending patent medicine vendors are required by regulation to apply for inspection, obtain approval for registration and conclude