Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
November 2, 2015 – The Lagos State Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods has shut no fewer than 33 pharmacies and patent medicine stores for operating illegally.
The agency also carted away fake drugs worth several millions in Ojo area of Lagos State in a renewed effort to sanitize drug distribution and rid the state of the menace of counterfeit drugs.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga, who disclosed this, explained that the exercise is coming on the heels of war declared by the state government against fake and expired drugs as well as operators of illegal pharmacies.
Onanuga explained that the 33 outlets were sealed for various acts contrary to the provisions of the law on the operation of pharmacies and patent medicine stores in Lagos, adding that the task force has a renewed mandate to comb every nook and cranny to fish out illegal patent medicine shops and pharmacy operators.
“The closure is part of the government’s efforts at ridding the state of fake, substandard and illegal drugs’ operators and outlets as well as ensuring high drug quality through sanitation and streamlining of drug distribution system in the state”.
He explained that sealing of fake pharmaceutical premises was in accordance with the provision of Chapter C34 of the Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provision) Act of 1999, Number 25.
Onanuga added that the raid was necessitated by the persistent defiance of government’s stipulated regulations on drug production, importation, manufacture, sales or display for sales, hawking, distribution, adulteration and possession of drugs by illegal operators.
Those affected in the exercise are Aston H. Pharmacy located at 17, Baale Street, Igbo-Elerin Road; Clint Kim & Moore Mart Pharmacy at 38a, Igbo Elerin Road; Bonalink Pharmacy at KM 4, LASU-Isheri Expressway; UNC Choice Supermarket at 40, Great Challenge Road, Iyana Iba; Ocean of Life Pharmacy & Stores at 6, Adaloko Road, Abule-Era, Ojo; and Dounthing Pharmacy at Unity Estate, Iba Ojo.
Others are De Franco Pharm at 40, Oba Goriola Road, Iba New Site; Fitzking Link Pharmacy at 18, Aratumi Road, Iba New Town; Holy Trinity Pharmacy & Stores Ltd. at 12/19, Abule Adaloko Road, Abule Era, Ojo; Augustine Iheneche Pharmacy at 3, Seriki Street, Okokomaiko; Save Soul Pharmacy at Afromedia Bale Street, Okokomaiko; and Concilia Nkiruka Drug Store at 13, Baale Road, Afromedia Ajangbadi.
