Kano Sees Protests Following Closure of 1,321 Medicine Stores by NAFDAC

A joint operation by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria led to the sealing of 1,321 patent medicine stores in Kano’s Sabon Gari open market.

This action followed a Federal High Court order instructing drug dealers to relocate to the Coordinated Wholesale Centre at Dangwauro village on Zaria Road in the state.

The closure sparked protests from the affected store owners, who marched to the Kano State Government House to voice their grievances.

NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Mr. Francis Ononiwu, stated that the closure was part of efforts to sanitize pharmaceutical practices and protect public health.

He emphasized that the relocation was necessary due to the threat posed by the distribution of unwholesome pharmaceutical products by the patent medicine traders.

Ononiwu urged the dealers to understand the importance of their relocation in the fight against drug abuse and to comply with the court order.

In response to the protests, the Chief of Staff to Governor Abba Yusuf, Alhaji Shehu Sagagi, received the aggrieved medicine dealers at the government house and promised to address their concerns through dialogue.