₦airaland Forum

Illegal Pharmacy Owner Jailed 8 Years In Calabar After Defying Regulatory Authorities

A Federal High Court in Calabar has sentenced a woman, Ezea Isidora Kamchukwube, to eight years imprisonment for illegally operating pharmacies and allowing unqualified persons to dispense medicines in Cross River State.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu delivered the judgment on Monday after finding the defendant guilty of running pharmaceutical businesses without registration as required under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act 2022.

According to court records, the convict operated "24 Hours Pharmaceuticals" on Marian Road and another pharmacy along Etta Agbor Road in Calabar without the necessary approval from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.

The court also heard that officials of the PCN had earlier sealed the premises during an enforcement exercise. However, the defendant allegedly broke the seals and resumed operations despite regulatory directives.

Justice Ojukwu ruled that the actions violated multiple provisions of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act, including practicing pharmacy without registration and operating pharmaceutical premises illegally.

Speaking after the judgment, Aliyu Okayode, Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Justice, said the conviction sends a strong message to individuals operating pharmaceutical businesses outside the law.

He stated that the prosecution successfully proved before the court that the defendant was neither registered nor licensed to practice pharmacy.

The case highlights the ongoing crackdown by regulatory authorities on illegal drug outlets across Nigeria, amid growing concerns about fake medicines, drug abuse, and the activities of unqualified medicine vendors.

Many public health experts have repeatedly warned that medicines dispensed by unqualified persons can lead to treatment failure, drug resistance, severe adverse reactions, and even death.

In Nigeria, a large belly especially in men is often seen as a sign that someone is doing well in life.

People call it:
"Big man package."
"Soft life."
"Enjoyment body."
"Evidence of good living."

Some even see it as proof of wealth and success.

But what if that same pot belly is quietly telling a completely different story?

What many people do not realize is that the most dangerous body fat is not necessarily the fat you can see under the skin. Doctors are often more concerned about the fat you cannot see, known as visceral fat.

This type of fat accumulates deep inside the abdomen and surrounds important organs such as the liver, pancreas, intestines, and kidneys. Unlike ordinary body fat, visceral fat is biologically active and can interfere with the body's normal functions.

Medical research has consistently linked excessive abdominal fat to serious health conditions including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, and even certain cancers.

This is one reason healthcare professionals pay close attention to your waist circumference during routine assessments.

A person may appear healthy, energetic, and successful on the outside while harmful changes are already taking place internally. Conditions such as insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and fatty liver disease can develop silently for years without obvious symptoms.

Fatty liver disease, in particular, is becoming increasingly common due to modern lifestyles characterized by excessive calorie intake, sugary drinks, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, poor sleep habits, chronic stress, and frequent consumption of highly processed foods.

The frightening part is that many people with fatty liver disease feel completely normal until complications begin to appear years later.

This is why a pot belly should not automatically be celebrated as a symbol of wealth, enjoyment, or success.

Sometimes, it may actually be one of the earliest warning signs that the body's metabolic health is under strain.

Good health is not about being extremely slim or chasing unrealistic body standards. It is about maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, eating balanced meals, sleeping adequately, monitoring your health regularly, and taking preventive care seriously.

A wealthy looking stomach means very little if the organs behind it are struggling in silence.

The body often whispers before it screams. The question is whether we are listening.

Today, May 31, marks World No Tobacco Day 2026, and this year's theme is both timely and alarming:

"Unmasking the Appeal: Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction."

For many Nigerians, tobacco control still brings to mind the image of an elderly man smoking cigarettes at a motor park or a pack of tobacco hidden in a shirt pocket.

The reality in 2026 is very different.

The tobacco and nicotine industry has evolved.

Addiction is no longer being marketed only through traditional cigarettes. It is increasingly being packaged through colourful vaping devices, attractive flavours, sleek designs, social media content, nicotine pouches, and products specifically designed to appeal to young people.

Many teenagers who would never touch a cigarette are now being introduced to nicotine through products that look harmless, modern, and fashionable.

This is exactly what the World Health Organization wants the world to pay attention to this year.

The goal of the campaign is to expose the tactics used to attract children, adolescents, and young adults into nicotine addiction while strengthening tobacco control efforts and encouraging those already addicted to seek help.

In Nigeria, where youth unemployment, peer pressure, social media influence, and mental health challenges continue to affect many young people, the danger is particularly significant.

Many users begin out of curiosity.

Some start because their friends are doing it.

Others believe vaping is completely safe.

Unfortunately, nicotine addiction often begins long before people realise they are becoming dependent.

Health experts continue to warn that tobacco and nicotine use increase the risk of serious illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, chronic respiratory diseases, several forms of cancer, and other life threatening conditions.

This is where pharmacists have an important role to play.

Community pharmacists are often the most accessible healthcare professionals in Nigeria. For many people, the pharmacy is the first place they seek health advice before visiting a hospital.

Pharmacists help by educating the public on the dangers of tobacco and nicotine use, providing cessation counselling, supporting individuals trying to quit, recommending appropriate nicotine replacement therapies where available, and identifying people who may already be developing tobacco related health complications.

They also play a crucial role in protecting young people by correcting misinformation about vaping, e-cigarettes, and other emerging nicotine products.

Beyond individual patient care, pharmacists contribute to public health campaigns, school awareness programs, community outreaches, and advocacy efforts aimed at creating healthier and smoke free environments.

The message of World No Tobacco Day 2026 is simple:

The tobacco industry has changed its packaging, changed its marketing, and changed its products.

Nicotine addiction, however, remains the same.

Parents, teachers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and young people themselves must work together to see beyond the attractive colours, flavours, and advertising.

Because sometimes the most dangerous addictions do not arrive looking dangerous.

They arrive looking attractive.

Happy World No Tobacco Day 2026.

Former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharmacist Olumide Akintayo, has called on the Federal Government to stop relying on temporary policies and urgently build a serious industrial system that can make medicines cheaper and strengthen local drug manufacturing in Nigeria.

Akintayo made this statement during the commissioning of the newly completed Asiwaju Adebowale Omotosho Pharmacy House, a five storey building owned by the Oyo State chapter of the PSN.

According to him, Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported medicines from countries like India and China is not accidental. He explained that those countries intentionally built strong industrial policies that supported pharmaceutical manufacturing for years, while Nigeria failed to do the same.

He pointed out that local pharmaceutical manufacturers are struggling under unbearable conditions including unstable electricity, poor infrastructure, high production costs, expensive loans and weak government support.

In his words, no country can expect competitive pharmaceutical manufacturing while factories are being powered mainly by diesel generators.

Akintayo also criticised government procurement systems for failing to prioritise locally manufactured medicines in public hospitals and healthcare institutions. According to him, there is no point encouraging companies to produce locally when the same government refuses to create a reliable market for those products.

Another major issue raised was financing.

The former PSN president lamented that pharmaceutical manufacturers are borrowing money at interest rates as high as 25 to 30 percent, describing it as completely unsustainable for any serious manufacturing business.

He called on the Federal Government to empower institutions like the Bank of Industry to provide long term single digit loans for pharmaceutical companies and also invest in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient production plants so Nigeria can reduce dependence on imported raw materials.

Also speaking at the event, pharmaceutical industrialist Asiwaju Adebowale Omotosho said many Nigerians underestimate how difficult manufacturing has become in the country. According to him, imported drugs from countries like China and Germany often enter the market cheaper and already have stronger market acceptance, making it difficult for local manufacturers to compete.

He added that many people now prefer trading instead of manufacturing because manufacturing takes time, patience and huge financial commitment before profits eventually come.

Chairman of the Oyo State PSN, Pharmacist Victor Ajanaku, also revealed that many pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers have either scaled down operations or completely exited the industry due to the harsh business environment, poor implementation of government incentives and difficulties accessing foreign exchange.

Perhaps the most striking part of the discussion is that this issue goes far beyond pharmacists alone.

Nigeria imports a huge percentage of its medicines despite having one of the largest populations in Africa. This dependence means every foreign exchange crisis, inflation spike or import disruption immediately affects drug prices nationwide, leaving ordinary Nigerians to suffer the consequences through expensive medications and reduced access to treatment.

The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rasidi Ladoja, who officially declared the building open, also called for stronger collaboration between orthodox healthcare practitioners and traditional medicine experts, stating that indigenous medical knowledge should not be completely ignored.

As drug prices continue to rise across the country, many Nigerians are now asking a difficult question:

If India and China built strong pharmaceutical industries through deliberate government support, what exactly is stopping Nigeria from doing the same?

Ebola Alert: PSN Orders All Pharmacies To Activate Emergency Surveillance Nationwide

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has placed pharmacists and community pharmacies across the country on high alert following fresh Ebola outbreaks reported in parts of Central and East Africa.

In an emergency nationwide advisory issued on Saturday, PSN President, Ayuba Ibrahim Tanko, directed pharmacists in all 36 states and the FCT to immediately strengthen surveillance, infection prevention measures and emergency response protocols to prevent a possible Ebola outbreak in Nigeria.

Although the Federal Ministry of Health has confirmed that Nigeria has not recorded any Ebola case, the PSN warned that pharmacies are often the first place sick people visit before going to hospitals, making pharmacists critical frontline defenders against a possible outbreak.

According to the advisory, pharmacists must now carefully monitor patients showing symptoms such as sudden high fever, weakness, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, rashes or unexplained bleeding.

The society also instructed pharmacies to begin screening patients for recent travel history to affected African regions or possible contact with travellers within the last 21 days.

To tighten safety nationwide, PSN ordered pharmacies to immediately restore strict infection prevention measures including:

• Hand washing stations and alcohol sanitizers at entrances
• Use of gloves and face masks for frontline staff
• Regular disinfection of counters, doors and payment terminals
• Suspension of non essential blood prick tests for patients with unexplained fever

The PSN also warned pharmacists against dangerous self medication and indiscriminate dispensing of malaria drugs or antibiotics for persistent fever cases.

The society strongly cautioned Nigerians against fake Ebola remedies, herbal mixtures and misleading claims circulating online, stressing that early medical care at approved health facilities remains the safest response.

Under the new emergency protocol, any suspected Ebola patient seen in a pharmacy must be isolated immediately while health authorities and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) are contacted without delay.

“Do not advise suspected patients to use public transport,” the PSN warned.

Nigeria successfully contained a deadly Ebola outbreak in 2014 after swift action by health workers prevented what could have become a national catastrophe. Many experts now believe early vigilance will again determine whether the country stays protected.

People often say Nigeria’s healthcare system is broken. That sounds true at first glance, especially when you look at long queues, delayed care, or overwhelmed hospitals.

But after looking closer at how care actually moves from one facility to another, a different picture appears.

The system is not mainly broken. It is disconnected.

Across the country, there are thousands of hospitals and clinics. Many of them are doing their best under pressure, with limited resources and difficult working conditions. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and community health workers show up every day and still try to deliver care that saves lives.

The problem is not effort. The problem is connection.

Each hospital often operates like a separate world.

A patient is seen in a primary health centre, referred to a general hospital, and then sent to a specialist facility. In theory, care is continuous. In reality, information is not.

Most of the time, what travels with the patient is a referral letter. Sometimes handwritten. Sometimes incomplete. Sometimes forgotten at home.

When that happens, the next doctor starts all over again.

Same questions. Same tests. Same delays. Same costs.

The patient pays for repetition, not because it is necessary, but because the system cannot “remember” what already happened somewhere else.

This is not a rare situation. It is daily routine across the country.

Now consider what that means in a system where most healthcare spending comes directly from people’s pockets. Every repeated test is not just inefficiency. It is another financial burden on families who are already stretched.

Even more serious is what gets lost in the gaps. Allergy history. Previous diagnoses. Medication lists. Test results done just days earlier. Small missing details that can change outcomes.

Globally, health systems are beginning to understand this clearly. The WHO has highlighted that a large portion of patient harm is preventable, often linked to communication failures and missing clinical information. In simple terms, when doctors do not have full information, patients are at higher risk.

Other countries have responded by treating health information like infrastructure, not paperwork.

Rwanda built a national system that connects facilities so patient data can move across locations. Kenya has scaled digital health systems across thousands of facilities. India is building a national digital health identity so patient records follow individuals wherever they go.

None of these systems are perfect. But they share one important decision. Patient information must move with the patient.

Nigeria has started making progress in this direction.

The Nigeria Data Protection Act has created a legal foundation for handling health data more responsibly. Some states are digitising parts of their health systems. National discussions around digital health infrastructure are also growing.

However, most facilities are still not connected in a meaningful way.

Three things need to change for real progress.

First, digital systems in hospitals must be able to communicate with each other by default. A hospital should not just digitise its own records. It should be able to share them securely with any other hospital when needed.

Second, referral systems need to move beyond paper. A referral should not depend on whether a patient remembers to carry a letter. It should be a complete transfer of clinical information.

Third, data protection and data sharing must be designed together. Protecting patient information without enabling safe sharing only creates isolation. Enabling sharing without protection creates risk. Both must work together.

The technology needed for this already exists. The standards are already used in other countries. The challenge is no longer technical. It is implementation.

Nigeria already has the hospitals. It already has the professionals. It already has the patients.

What is missing is the network that allows all of them to work as one system instead of isolated parts.

A healthcare system does not fail only because it lacks resources.

It fails when the parts cannot speak to each other.

The real question is not whether Nigeria can build a connected healthcare system.

The real question is how many lives will be affected before it does.

A Federal High Court in Calabar has dismissed a fundamental rights suit filed against the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in a case tied to the sealing of two alleged illegal drug stores during a regulatory operation in Cross River State.

The suit, filed by Ezea Asidora and others under FHC/CA/FHR/39/2025, challenged the enforcement action carried out on March 10 and March 18, 2025, arguing that the closure of their shops amounted to a violation of their constitutional rights.

But the court ruled otherwise.

Delivering judgment, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu held that the applicants failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove that their fundamental rights were breached. The court stated that regulatory agencies acted within their mandate after suspecting that the operators were not properly registered or licensed under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act.

According to the court, the burden of proof rested on the applicants, and on the materials presented, the claims could not stand.

“The applicants have failed to establish the violation of their rights, and the suit is dismissed,” the judge ruled.

The court further emphasized the importance of regulatory enforcement in protecting public health, especially in the pharmaceutical sector where unlicensed operations can pose serious risks.

The matter is however not fully concluded, as the court adjourned a related criminal case, FRN v. Ezea Asidora (FHC/CA/76C/2025), to June 1 and ordered that the defendant be produced for continuation of proceedings.

The ruling highlights Nigeria’s ongoing clampdown on illegal drug distribution and the legal backing now being reinforced around pharmaceutical regulation and enforcement actions.

I still remember the silence in the room that day.

My neighbor was 21, healthy looking, he is always laughing. The kind of person nobody would ever suspect of having hypertension.

We all believed the same thing most young people believe. High blood pressure is for older people in their 50s or 60s, not for someone dealing with school, plans, stress, and everyday survival in Nigeria.

Then he checked his blood pressure. The reading was very high 158/90.

There were no dramatic symptoms. Just small things he had been ignoring for a while such as headaches once in a while, fatigue, poor sleep and occasional dizziness he always brushed off as stress.

Nothing felt serious until it suddenly was. It js that moment that changed my understanding of hypertension.

Most times, it does not come with loud warning signs. It works quietly in the background, damaging the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes over time. Many people only find out when the situation has already become serious.

Across Nigeria and many African countries, more young people are being diagnosed with high blood pressure. The causes are not far-fetched. Stress, poor sleep, unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, alcohol, smoking, kidney injuries and delayed medical checkups are becoming normal lifestyle patterns.

A lot of people only discover their condition by accident during school screenings, medical checkup at work, pregnancy tests, blood donation, or emergency situations.

Another worrying habit is stopping medication once symptoms reduce. Hypertension does not go away because you feel fine. It can still be damaging your organs silently.

This is why “together” matters.

Controlling hypertension is not only about the individual. Families influence eating habits. Friends influence lifestyle choices. Healthcare workers provide education and support. Governments affect access to care. Individuals are responsible for consistency and discipline.

All of these matter.

Simple habits make a big difference. Reducing salt intake helps. Regular exercise helps. Better sleep helps. Managing stress helps. Routine checkups help.

Most importantly, being young does not protect anyone.

My friend was 21, looked completely fine, and still had a dangerously high reading that day. Hypertension does not wait for age.

Check your blood pressure. Encourage someone close to you to do the same. Sometimes prevention starts with a simple conversation.

It's World Hypertension Day.

mayorall:
2024 csr for your reference

https://www.nairaland.com/8293294/1m-naira-corporate-social-responsibilities

As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Mayorall will be giving out 4 pieces of 8th Gen Touchscreen x360 laptops to 4 eligible Nairalanders.

Eligibility Criteria

You must have been a member of Nairaland for at least 3 years.

You must have a history of contributing positively to help fellow Nairalanders.

Your posting history must be free from tribalism, hate speech, or constant insults. Sarcasm alone is not a ground for disqualification.


How to Apply

Tell us:

What you plan to use the laptop for

How it will help you personally, academically, professionally, or in business.


Qualified applicants will be contacted if selected.

Mayorall remains committed to giving back and supporting growth within the community.

Kindly note that a video verification will be conducted for beneficiaries .

All beneficiary will be selected in the next 7 days.

For more than a decade, fintech transformed Nigeria’s banking sector from frustrating queues, endless paperwork and delayed transactions into instant transfers, digital wallets and mobile banking convenience.

Now, analysts believe healthcare may be next.

According to growing conversations within Nigeria’s healthtech ecosystem, the country’s healthcare sector today resembles banking before the fintech boom around 2012, filled with inefficiency, fragmented systems and massive untapped demand waiting for disruption.

A recent analysis by Nigerian product professional Dolapo R. Fasakin argues that healthcare in Nigeria is quietly entering its own “fintech moment” and most Nigerians are not paying attention yet.

The comparison is striking.

Millions of Nigerians still struggle with poor access to healthcare, scattered patient records, expensive out of pocket medical bills and outdated hospital systems. In many cases, patients move from one hospital to another carrying paper files while paying huge costs directly from their pockets during emergencies.

But beneath these long standing problems, a silent digital revolution is already happening.

The First Wave
The first wave of Nigeria’s healthcare technology movement focused mainly on infrastructure and government ICT development between the 1980s and 2015.

The Second Wave
After the first wave came a second wave between 2016 and 2022, where startups introduced telemedicine, online pharmacies, diagnostics platforms and digital HMOs, especially during the COVID 19 pandemic.

However, many of those platforms mostly served urban smartphone users, while rural and lower income Nigerians remained excluded. Investor enthusiasm also slowed after the pandemic funding surge cooled down globally.

The Third Wave
Now, experts say a third wave is emerging and this one may change everything.

The new focus is shifting toward AI driven healthcare intelligence, health financing, digital pharmacies, patient owned medical records, predictive healthcare systems, medicine logistics and preventive care.

One major opportunity lies in health financing. Although Nigeria’s National Health Insurance Authority Act technically supports wider insurance coverage, millions of Nigerians still rely heavily on direct cash payments for healthcare.

This gap is creating opportunities for startups to build flexible systems that fit how ordinary Nigerians actually earn and spend money.

Perhaps the most surprising argument is that the people likely to transform Nigerian healthcare may not even be doctors.

Instead, they may be engineers, pharmacists, product designers, fintech founders and data scientists building systems around real Nigerian realities.

And just like fintech transformed banking years ago, whoever solves healthcare access, trust and affordability at scale could define the next generation of African billion dollar companies.

The reported shocking and tragic death of popular Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo at just 40 years old has sent shockwaves across Nigeria and beyond, with reports suggesting the actor had been privately battling cancer before his passing.

While some reports mention liver cancer and others suggest kidney cancer, one painful reality remains clear:
Many deadly diseases destroy the body silently long before symptoms become obvious.

For many Nigerians, this tragedy is becoming more than celebrity news. It is now a wake up call.

Across social media, thousands of people have started discussing a growing health crisis affecting younger Nigerians: Late diagnosis.

Too many people still avoid routine medical checkups until serious symptoms appear:
Yellow eyes.
Swollen stomach.
Severe weakness.
Vomiting blood.
Rapid weight loss.

By then, treatment becomes harder, more expensive and sometimes too late.

Medical experts have repeatedly warned that liver diseases especially Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C remain major risk factors for liver cancer in Nigeria. These infections can quietly damage the liver for years without obvious symptoms.

Other major risk factors include:
• Excessive alcohol use
• Smoking
• Obesity and fatty liver disease
• Unsafe sex
• Self medication and drug abuse
• Unsafe herbal mixtures
• Poorly stored foods contaminated with toxins
• Lack of routine medical screening

Health professionals also warn that many Nigerians normalize dangerous habits because “nothing seems wrong” at the moment.

But liver damage is often silent in its early stages.

One of the biggest conversations sparked by the actor’s death is how many young Africans appear healthy publicly while secretly battling severe illnesses privately.

Several online users also pointed to deeper systemic problems:
Poor healthcare access,
expensive treatment,
fake drugs,
weak preventive healthcare culture,
and widespread dependence on self medication.

The incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for:
• Regular medical checkups
• Hepatitis testing and vaccination
• Better health awareness
• Reduced alcohol and drug abuse
• Earlier hospital visits before complications develop

Because sometimes, the body whispers for years before it screams.

One of the most influential figures in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical regulation and academic pharmacy, Prof. Ahmed Tijjani Mora, is set to be honoured with the launch of a landmark book documenting his decades of impact on healthcare regulation, pharmacy education and professional leadership in Nigeria.

The book titled “Professor Ahmed Tijjani Mora: A Pillar of Pharmacy Regulation in Nigeria” will be officially presented on May 13, 2026, at Abyssinia Hall, Hotel Seventeen, Kaduna, as the respected professor marks his 70th birthday.

Prof. Mora, an Ahmadu Bello University graduate who qualified as a pharmacist in 1978, has spent over five decades shaping pharmacy practice and mentoring generations of pharmacists across institutions including ABU Zaria, Kaduna State University and Igbinedion University.

Beyond academia, his fingerprints remain deeply embedded in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical regulatory system. He served in several strategic capacities within the Pharmacists Board of Nigeria and later the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria between 1989 and 2023, including as Registrar/CEO, Board Member and Chairman of the Governing Council.

The book project was initiated by former students and associates under the Prof. A.T. Mora Book Project Committee led by Pharm. Aliyu Jibrin, with the aim of preserving the story of a man many describe as one of the quiet architects of modern pharmacy regulation in Nigeria.

In a remarkable show of national recognition, the foreword of the book was written by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

Top dignitaries expected at the event include former Vice President Namadi Sambo as Chairman of the occasion, Governor Uba Sani as Special Guest of Honour, Coordinating Minister of Health Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate as Guest of Honour, and the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, as Traditional Father of the Day.

At a time when fake drugs, antimicrobial resistance and weak medicine regulation remain major public health threats in Africa, many healthcare professionals see the celebration of figures like Prof. Mora as more than a birthday event. They see it as recognition of the people who quietly built the systems protecting millions of Nigerians from unsafe pharmaceutical practices.

Today, May 5, marks World Asthma Day (28th anniversary), observed every first Tuesday in May.

This year’s theme is clear and urgent:
“Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for everyone with asthma – still an urgent need.”
Led by the Global Initiative for Asthma.

Let’s bring this home to Nigeria.

Asthma is not just “catarrh” or “small cough.”
It is a chronic disease that can kill if poorly managed.

And the uncomfortable truth is this:
Many people are still treating asthma wrongly.

The real problem is not just asthma… it is access and misuse.

A lot of patients rely only on “reliever inhalers” (the ones that give quick relief).
They feel better and think they are fine.

But asthma is an inflammatory disease.

Without anti-inflammatory inhalers like corticosteroids, the condition is not controlled.
It is only being masked.

That is why attacks keep coming back.
That is why some cases suddenly become emergencies.

Why this year’s theme matters

Inhaled corticosteroids are not luxury drugs.
They are life-saving.

They:
• Reduce airway inflammation
• Prevent frequent attacks
• Lower the risk of hospital admission and death

Yet many patients cannot afford them, cannot find them, or don’t even know they need them.


Where pharmacists come in

In Nigeria, community pharmacists are often the first point of care.

Their role goes beyond selling drugs:

• Ensuring access – making essential inhalers available and affordable
• Teaching inhaler technique – many patients use inhalers wrongly and get poor results
• Counselling – helping patients understand triggers like dust, smoke, cold air, and infections
• Early referral – spotting uncontrolled asthma before it becomes severe
• Monitoring – checking adherence, side effects, and treatment outcomes
• Advocacy – pushing for better policies and access to asthma care

Simple message for everyone

If you or someone you know has asthma:

Don’t depend only on “quick relief.”
Ask about preventive inhalers.
Learn how to use your inhaler properly.
Take your treatment seriously even when you feel fine.

Asthma does not have to control your life.
But poor access and poor knowledge will.


Final message

Breathing should not be a privilege.

Access to proper asthma treatment is not optional.
It is a necessity.

PHARMACIES IN NIGERIA ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE FOREVER : CPACPI FRAMEWORK OFFICIALLY ENDORSED!

Nigeria’s community pharmacies are no longer just medicine shops. Thanks to a new professional development framework endorsed by key stakeholders, pharmacists are set to become central players in primary healthcare.

The game-changing meeting, convened by the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) and the Community Pharmacists Assessment and Career Progression Institute (CPACPI) in Abuja, brought together government officials, regulators, WHO representatives, development partners, and private sector leaders.

Here’s why this matters:

Community pharmacists are often the first point of care for many Nigerians. Nearly 60% of patients visit a pharmacy before a hospital.

CPACPI introduces a 5-level career pathway:
From Community Pharmacist → Senior Community Pharmacist → Specialist → Senior Specialist → Consultant. Progression is now tied to measurable outcomes, mentorship, and structured appraisals.

The framework aims to transition pharmacies from simple medicine-dispensing outlets to full healthcare hubs, boosting access, service quality, and health data reporting across Nigeria.

32 individuals from public and private sectors were recognized as CPACPI Champions, leading the push for professional excellence and healthcare expansion.

Experts agree this is more than a framework – it’s a healthcare revolution. With proper legislative support and collaboration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, community pharmacies could fill major gaps in primary healthcare, including maternal health, disease prevention, and data-driven healthcare planning.

Nigeria is witnessing the professionalization of its pharmacists like never before. Soon, your local pharmacy may not just dispense medicines – it could be your first stop for healthcare advice, preventive care, and trusted guidance.

The question now is – are pharmacists ready to step up, and will the system back them fully?

Today is World Malaria Day and this year’s message is bold:

Driven to End Malaria. Now We Can. Now We Must.

But let’s be honest.

We’ve had slogans before.

What makes this moment different?

Nigeria still carries the heaviest burden globally. Roughly one in four malaria cases and deaths happens here. That is not just a statistic. It is a system failure we have normalised for too long.

Yet something important is changing.

Prevalence has dropped significantly over the years. More families are sleeping under insecticide treated nets. Seasonal chemoprevention is reaching children. Diagnosis and treatment are improving at community level.

We now even have local production of key medicines like sulfadoxine pyrimethamine.

This is progress, real progress and for the first time, it feels like we are not just reacting to malaria. We are starting to control it.

But here is the uncomfortable truth:

Progress is not victory.

Because while we are improving, malaria is adapting.

Drug resistance is emerging in parts of Africa.
Mosquitoes are becoming harder to control.
Climate patterns are creating new breeding opportunities.
And rural communities are still being left behind.

So yes, we now have better tools.

Vaccines like RTS,S and R21 are entering the picture.
Stronger nets. Better surveillance. Smarter strategies.

But tools do not end diseases.

Decisions do.

If funding drops, progress reverses.
If people stop using nets, infections rise.
If treatment is delayed or misused, outcomes worsen.

Malaria does not need much to come back stronger.

So this is where the real work is.

Not just awareness.

Action.

If you are in Nigeria:

Check your mosquito nets.
Clear stagnant water around your environment.
Seek proper testing before treatment.
Take malaria seriously, even when it feels routine.

And if you are in healthcare, policy, or leadership:

We cannot afford to relax now.

Because this might be the closest we have ever been to ending malaria.

But “almost” has never saved lives.

Now we can.

Now we must.

The question is whether we will.

#WorldMalariaDay2026 #EndMalariaNigeria #ZeroMalariaStartsWithMe

FG Bans Importation of Paracetamol, Metronidazole, Other Medicines in New Trade Policy

The Federal Government has announced a sweeping ban on the importation of several pharmaceutical products, including commonly used drugs such as paracetamol and metronidazole, as part of a revised import prohibition list aimed at strengthening local industries.

The directive, issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance and dated April 1, 2026, outlines 17 categories of items now barred from entering the country through any port.

Among the most sensitive aspects of the policy is the restriction on a wide range of medicines classified under pharmaceutical import codes. Affected drugs include paracetamol tablets and syrups, metronidazole, cotrimoxazole, chloroquine, aspirin, folic acid, multivitamins, and several topical antibiotics.

Under the new policy, these products are expected to be sourced locally, placing increased responsibility on Nigeria’s domestic pharmaceutical sector to meet national demand.

Wider Ban Across Key Sectors

Beyond pharmaceuticals, the government also extended the ban to multiple sectors as part of efforts to boost local production and manage foreign exchange.

In the agricultural sector, the importation of frozen poultry, beef, pork, and eggs remains prohibited, with limited exceptions for breeding purposes.

Refined vegetable oils packaged for retail sale, including palm, soybean, and sunflower oils, are also restricted, although crude forms are still allowed for industrial processing.

Household items such as detergents, soaps, and even ballpoint pens have been included in the prohibition list, alongside construction materials like bagged cement and certain steel products.

Implications for Healthcare

The restriction on essential medicines is expected to have significant implications for healthcare delivery.

Industry stakeholders say the success of the policy will depend largely on the capacity of local manufacturers to scale production, maintain quality standards, and ensure consistent supply across the country.

Concerns have also been raised about potential short term shortages and price increases if local production does not meet demand quickly.

Enforcement Begins

The Nigeria Customs Service has been directed to enforce the new regulations, with warnings that non compliant imports will be seized and offenders sanctioned.

Authorities say the move is part of a broader strategy to reduce dependence on imports, strengthen local industries, and stabilise the economy.

What Nigerians Should Know

While the policy is expected to boost local production in the long term, its immediate impact will likely be felt across markets, pharmacies, and households.

Observers say the coming months will determine whether the policy leads to stronger local capacity or creates new supply challenges.

fyzaila:
Good job, those enemies of youth want to spoil our youth finish. All those so called drug shop they will display dugs on shelf that you can count but yet you see people esp youth trooping in and out and you think it real medicine they're buying? The shop is just a camouflage for illicit drug selling

buygala:
Why is a Dr heading enforcement for Pharmacy Council of Nigeria?

Or are Pharmacists now also Doctors?

NDLEA, NAFDAC and now PCN are all in the business of locking down questionable pharmacies....Isn't Pharmacy regulation supposed to be a centralized thing?

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria has sealed no fewer than 598 premises across Kaduna State following a statewide enforcement exercise targeting illegal drug operations and unsafe practices.

The four-day operation, which covered 10 local government areas including Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Zaria, Igabi and Chikun, also led to the arrest of two vendors for serious violations of regulatory laws.

Speaking at a press briefing in Kaduna, the Head of Enforcement, Dr Suleiman Chiroma, said the exercise was part of the council’s mandate to regulate pharmacy practice and ensure compliance across the drug distribution chain.

According to him, a total of 828 premises were inspected during the exercise. This included 123 pharmacies, 631 patent medicine stores and 74 unlicensed outlets.

Out of these, 598 facilities were sealed. The figure comprises 68 pharmacies, 456 patent medicine stores and all 74 unlicensed outlets identified during the inspection.

Chiroma explained that the affected premises were found guilty of various offences, including operating without valid licences, running unregistered facilities, engaging in unauthorised clinical practices, and stocking prescription-only medicines in patent medicine shops.

He noted that some vendors were dispensing controlled drugs beyond their approved scope, describing the practice as a serious threat to public health.

“Such practices exceed their authorised scope and pose significant risks to public safety,” he said.

Despite the widespread closures, the council reported some level of improvement in compliance. About 28 per cent of the inspected premises met regulatory standards, while only nine per cent were classified as operating illegally.

The enforcement team also issued four compliance directives to operators found to have minor infractions.

Chiroma reiterated the council’s commitment to sanitising the drug distribution system, stressing that only licensed premises operated by qualified personnel would be allowed to function.

He also warned members of the public against patronising unlicensed drug vendors, noting that improper use of medicines could lead to serious health complications or death.

“Drugs are poisons if not properly used. The difference between a drug and a poison is how it is used,” he said.

The council said enforcement efforts would continue in other parts of the country to strengthen regulation and protect public health.

A quiet but important debate is emerging in Nigeria’s healthcare space over a simple question with no clear answer: who actually owns a patient’s medical records?

At the centre of the issue are existing laws such as the National Health Act (2014) and the Nigeria Data Protection Act (2023). While both laws set out rules on confidentiality and data protection, they do not clearly define ownership of medical records, leaving a legal grey area around patient data.

This uncertainty has raised concerns among health and digital policy experts, especially as Nigeria moves toward more digitised healthcare systems.

DATA SYSTEMS AND FOREIGN INVOLVEMENT

Reports indicate that a large portion of Nigeria’s HIV data, covering over 1.4 million patients, is stored within systems supported by international partners, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Health partnerships between Nigeria and foreign agencies have also been linked to data sharing arrangements involving disease surveillance and research activities. However, the extent of national control over some of these datasets remains a subject of public debate.

LOW DIGITAL RECORDS ADOPTION

Despite progress in health tech, electronic medical record adoption in Nigeria remains limited. Estimates suggest that less than 20 percent of health facilities use digital systems for patient records.

As a result, a significant portion of medical data is still recorded on paper, stored locally, or inconsistently managed across facilities. This has made it difficult to create a unified or easily accessible national health database.

HOW HEALTH DATA IS CURRENTLY USED

Medical data collected in Nigeria is used by different actors for various purposes, including:

1. Government health planning and policy development
2. International health programmes and donor-funded projects
3. Pharmaceutical research and clinical studies
4. Health insurance claims processing

However, access and transparency remain uneven, with patients often unaware of how their information is stored or used.

GROWING CONCERNS

Experts warn that the current structure raises concerns around data governance, privacy, and national control. Without clear ownership frameworks and stronger infrastructure, patient data may remain fragmented and vulnerable to misuse or limited oversight.

There are also calls for stronger enforcement of data protection laws, improved digital infrastructure in hospitals, and clearer rules governing international data-sharing agreements.

FINAL NOTE

Health data is more than administrative records. It contains sensitive personal and medical history that can influence treatment, policy, and research.

As Nigeria expands its digital health systems, the central question remains unresolved: not just how secure the data is, but who ultimately controls it.

IamAtAnger:
How valid is this update?...cos of its valid hmmm... we're all doomed in naija

Moneyyman:
Of course it has to be biochemistry

That course wicked dieeeeeee

A report from a Rivers State University, at its medical faculty has revealed that 22 students were involved in examination malpractice within a two-week period during Medical Biochemistry (BCH) exams.

The cases cut across several health-related departments, including Public Health, Physiology, Radiography, and MBBS, raising concerns about academic integrity in fields that are directly linked to patient care and safety.

According to the document, the most common forms of malpractice included bringing unauthorized materials such as micro-notes and textbooks into the examination hall. There were also multiple instances of students using mobile phones to access information or communicate during the exams. In some cases, students reportedly used wireless earpieces to receive answers discreetly.

Academic observers note that Medical Biochemistry is a core subject in health sciences, forming part of the foundation for clinical training. Skipping or bypassing this knowledge may affect students’ performance in later stages of their education and professional competence.

Concerns have also been raised about the broader implications of such incidents. Repeated malpractice cases could affect the reputation of the institution and raise questions about the quality of training in critical healthcare fields.

The Examination Officer, Dr. Opusunju Boma Harris, is said to have taken steps to address the situation and reinforce academic standards within the department.

Education stakeholders continue to emphasize the importance of integrity in medical training, noting that competence in healthcare cannot be compromised.