Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has called on the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) to enforce the ethics of their profession to get rid of sales of unprescribed drugs.
Governor Sani Bello stated this when he received the Registrar and Chief Executive Office of PCN at the Government House, Minna.
He urged them to operationalize their ethics to the latter as drug abuse among the people especially youths has reached an alarming rate.
“I want to appeal to this council to enforce your rules and regulations because right now, anyone can go to any pharmacy and buy any medication that he wants.
“I want to believe that this Council is responsible for making sure that the work ethics of all pharmacists are done according to books. In recent times we have had a lot of pharmacists around and they engage more in the selling of drugs to our young people”, he said.
The Governor congratulated the new registrar and CEO, Pharmacists Ibrahim Baba Shehu Ahmed on his appointment and pledged the support of the state government.
He urged the new Registrar to make Niger State proud and be a worthy ambassador being a Nigerlite.
The National Chairman of PCN and leader of the delegation, Pharmacist Ahmed Tijani Morah said they were at the Government House to congratulate the Governor on the appointment of a Nigerlite, Pharmacist Ibrahim Baba Shehu Ahmed as the Registrar and Chief Executive Office of the pharmacist council of Nigeria, adding that he is the first pharmacist of Niger state origin to be appointed as the Registrar and CEO of PCN.
He also commended pharmacists in the state public service for being outstanding in the profession.
The PCN national chairman then appreciated the state government for its immense contribution and support to the profession.
In his remarks, the new PCN Registrar and CEO, Pharmacist Shehu Baba said that he has commenced consultations towards closing down open drug markets in the country and replacing them with a coordinated wholesale center where the public and certified retailers can have access to regulated drugs.
The Registrar added that since he came on board he has clamped down on over 3000 pharmaceutical outlets for operating beyond their standard procedure.
He appreciated the Governor for finding out time to receive them.
Mary Noel-Berje
Chief Press Secretary
to the Governor of Niger State.
