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.”