Posted on: Wed 18-03-2026

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, in Lagos State yesterday warned that Nigeria's pharmaceutical system is facing a critical breakdown, with an estimated three million unregistered drug outlets operating across the country. The PSN stated that these illegal outlets put millions of Nigerians at risk and are symptomatic of a broader failure in health-sector governance. 

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting in Lagos, the Society's chairman, Babayemi Oyekunle, stated that the proliferation of unlicensed outlets stems from weak enforcement and long-standing structural imbalances. 

With over three million unregistered pharmaceutical outlets operating in Nigeria, millions of citizens are exposed to unsafe drugs and poor pharmacy practices, while less than 50,000 registered premises remain under proper oversight. Less than 50,000 pharmaceutical premises are registered, leaving millions operating outside regulatory oversight. 

This exposes Nigerians to substandard practices and undermines safe drug use, he said. Oyekunle also accused the Health Ministry of sidelining non-physician health workers. including pharmacists, nurses, and laboratory scientists. 

He claimed that decision-making structures are increasingly favouring physicians, sometimes occupying over 95 per cent of positions in key committees. Such arrangements render all other professional inputs irrelevant and weaken our healthcare system, he said.

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