Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Kaduna State branch, has called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency curtail the excesses of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in Kaduna.
Addressing journalists in Kaduna on Friday, the Chairman, PSN Kaduna State branch, Pharm. Sunday Ali Okoh, lamented the excesses of the NDLEA and called on the presidency and the National Assembly to intervene.
According to Okoh, the Agency had times without number unduly, illegally, and unprofessionally obstructed and hindered their roles.
He said that the group was aware of the roles of the agency to arrest and prosecute dealers of illicit drugs but not to hinder pharmacists from carrying out their statutory roles.
According to him, “All over the planet earth, the rights to medications (life) are fundamental.
“It is worthy of note that pharmacists are licensed to import, export, mix, compound, prepare, dispense, counsel, sell, procure and distribute drugs, (PCN Act 2022,).”
“Time without number, the NDLEA has unduly, illegally and unprofessionally obstructed and hindered these life saving roles only to feather their nests, exploit Nigerians, collect bribes and force their victims to give assent that bail is free after collecting millions of Naira,” he claimed.
He alleged that law enforcement agents have become law breakers.
He explained, “Pharmacists are legal entities and many patients’ medication are stored with them; sealing up pharmacists is as good as denying the citizens their right to life.”