The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) have issued a status report on the relocation of the pharmaceutical wholesale centre (PWC) in Dangwauro on the outskirts of the Kano metropolis.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Adeyeye Mojisola, disclosed on Tuesday that the CWC in Kano is now operational, with regulatory offices established on-site to ensure compliance and provide oversight.
At a joint press briefing by the NAFDAC DG and PCN’s Secretary, Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, both agencies expressed optimism that this would help address the proliferation of substandard falsified medicines in Nigeria.
The statement said the relocation process began following the development of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG), a framework established to address challenges with Nigeria’s drug distribution system.
The statement added that over the years, NAFDAC and PCN have engaged stakeholders in Kano’s open markets in Sabon Gari, Malam Kato, and Mai Karami to facilitate their transition to the CWC.
It added that a 2024 Federal High Court ruling in favour of the relocation reinforced the agencies’ regulatory mandate and led to enforcement actions that sealed over 1,370 outlets outside the new system.
The agencies assured that they would continue monitoring the distribution and sale of drugs to maintain quality and safety while continuing to engage stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition.
Additionally, the statement said advocacy campaigns have also been intensified to educate stakeholders on the benefits of the CWC system for public health and the pharmaceutical sector.
NAFDAC and PCN further urged stakeholders in other cities Like Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba to prepare for a similar transition as the CWC model is expanded nationwide.
NAFDAC Provides Update On Kano Open Drug Markets Relocation is first published on The Whistler Newspaper