The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has strongly denied allegations linking it to counterfeit drug distribution, describing the claims as misleading and damaging to its reputation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the council refuted a recent media report aired by Africa Independent Television (AIT), which suggested that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) had implicated the PCN in fake medicine circulation. The PCN labeled the report as a gross misrepresentation of NAFDAC’s remarks and demanded an immediate retraction and public apology from the media outlet.
According to PCN Registrar Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, a review of the controversial interview showed that at no point did NAFDAC’s Director-General accuse the council of any wrongdoing. Instead, the discussion highlighted both agencies’ complementary roles in regulating drug distribution and combating illegal pharmaceutical sales.
The PCN emphasized its ongoing collaboration with NAFDAC, citing its enforcement efforts, including the closure of over 50,000 illegal drug outlets nationwide and major crackdowns on open drug markets, such as the Sabon Gari Market in Kano. The council reassured Nigerians of its commitment to ensuring safe and effective pharmaceutical services while urging the media to uphold ethical journalism, particularly in matters of public health.
Meanwhile, the PCN has called on NAFDAC to publicly clarify the misinterpretation of its director-general’s comments to prevent further misinformation.
