Writing by Aminu Dalhatu; Editing by Abubakar Hamza.
Zamfara State Government has launched a multi-agency initiative to curb the illegal and indiscriminate sale of medicines, warning that the practice fuels the circulation of fake drugs, treatment failure, and preventable deaths.
The initiative was announced by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nafisa Muhammad Maradun, during a stakeholders’ review meeting held in Gusau.
The meeting brought together security agencies, regulatory bodies, professional associations, and development partners to develop a comprehensive enforcement roadmap.
Represented at the meeting by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Malam Bashir Sirajo, Dr. Maradun said the widespread hawking of medicines in streets, markets, and motor parks poses a severe and growing threat to public health and security.
She noted that the practice contributes to antimicrobial resistance and is often linked to broader criminal networks.
According to her, the State Security Council has mandated the Ministry of Health to coordinate all relevant agencies to deliver a clear, actionable, and sustainable plan to address the menace.
“Our task is to stop the hawking and illegal sale of medicines, assign clear roles for enforcement and public awareness, and ensure sustained action beyond one-off exercises,” she said.
Dr Nafisa Maradun maintained that progress made under the roadmap would be reported quarterly to the State Security Council to ensure accountability and continuity.
She explained that the roadmap is designed to strengthen coordination and accountability among agencies involved in drug regulation and enforcement.
“This is about protecting lives. With shared responsibility, routine surveillance, and firm enforcement, we can restore integrity to the drug distribution system in Zamfara,” she stressed.
Speaking at the meeting, the Zamfara State Coordinator of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) described the initiative as timely and commendable.
He outlined NAFDAC’s mandate to regulate and ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of medicines, foods, and related products, pledging the agency’s full support for inspections, public sensitization, and enforcement.
Also speaking, the Zamfara State Officer of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharmacist Yusuf Abdulmujib, highlighted the council’s regulatory role over pharmaceutical outlets, patent and proprietary medicine vendors, and pharmacy practice, emphasizing the need for strict compliance with existing regulations.
In a statement issued by the Information Officer of the Ministry of Health, Sulaiman Isah, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was also represented at the meeting by Ghazali D. Isgogo, on behalf of the state commandant.
He reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to collaborate with other stakeholders to curb illegal drug distribution and related criminal activities across the state.
Rel/Aminu Dalhatu.
