Gov Sani Bello Charges Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria on Drug Abuse, Expired Drugs

BY SAKA BOLAJI, MINNA

Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has tasked the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) to partner with his administration in the fight against drug abuse and sales of expired drugs in the state.

Bello made the call while hosting the National President of the Society, Mr Ahmad Ibrahim Yakasai who led members of his executive council to the state Government House as part of the activities for the 89th annual conference of the society being held in Minna.

The governor expressed deep concern that the effect of drug abuse is gradually taking deep root in the social and communal life of the people of the state, especially the youth.

He also said a new emerging trend is the sales of expired drugs, especially in the rural areas, pointing accusing fingers to some pharmacists who indulged in the sales of expired drugs to unsuspecting members of the public.

The governor said some pharmacists have been identified as culprits, threatening that the state government would not hesitate to hand over anybody engaging in unwholesome and unethical practice to law enforcement agencies for prosecution.

Governor Sani challenged the society to carry out internal cleaning of bad eggs in practice by impounding and withdrawing the licence of any Pharmacy or Pharmacist found aiding drug abuse or dealing in fake and expired drugs.

The governor said: “The is a fight that all of us must join hands to fight. As a professional body, I will suggest that you withdraw the licence of any erring member. When you do that for one or two pharmacists, others in the illegal act will caution themselves.

“For us, we are going to go after any Pharmacist or Pharmacy found aiding drug abuse, buy or selling drugs to people without prescription by a qualified doctor. We have identified some of this bad eggs. We are going after them. This is a total war. Same goes for those trading in expired and fake drugs. We are coming for them.”

In his earlier address, Yakasai, the National President of the Society, said the body was committed to a cordial and team work spirit with other professional bodies in the healthcare delivery service.

He then called on the people of the state to participate in the forth coming drug abuse campaign across the country.

Niger State is hosting the 89th annual conference of the society.