The federal government has instructed the owners of 1,321 medicine stores sealed in Kano to relocate to the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) in the Dangwauro area. This move aims to enhance monitoring and safeguard public health.

Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate, issued the directive following an inspection of the CWC on Zaria Road, emphasizing the importance of ensuring quality distribution and combating counterfeit drugs.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) sealed the stores on February 18 for illegal operations in Kano.

Pate underscored the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians from substandard and illicit drugs, highlighting the chaotic nature of the open market system as a channel for distributing harmful substances.

He stressed the significance of improving the drug distribution system to enhance safety and efficacy, urging compliance with regulatory laws.

Kano State Commissioner for Health, Abubakar Labaran, affirmed the state’s support for smaller drug dealers to secure shops at the CWC. Labaran emphasized the need to rid the market of illicit drugs and ensure public health.

The directive signifies a concerted effort to streamline drug distribution channels, safeguard public health, and combat the proliferation of counterfeit drugs in Kano and beyond.