The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to shut down open drug markets across the country, warning that the unregulated sale and diversion of controlled medicines are contributing to banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes.

The Society has also urged the Federal Government to declare pharmaceutical insecurity a national security threat and replace open drug markets with licensed Coordinated Wholesale Centres to strengthen the regulation and distribution of medicines.

The PSN President, Pharm. Ayuba Ibrahim Tanko, made the call in Awka, Anambra State, while delivering his presidential address at the opening of the Society's 99th Annual National Conference, tagged PSN-IJELE 2026, at the International Convention Centre.

Tanko expressed concern over the growing circulation of unregulated medicines, particularly controlled and psychoactive drugs, insisting that pharmaceutical products should not be treated as ordinary commercial commodities because of their public health and national security implications.

He argued that the Federal Government must maintain effective control over the country's pharmaceutical supply chain to ensure accountability, proper regulation and public safety.

According to him, the diversion and abuse of controlled medicines, including tramadol and pentazocine, have become linked to Nigeria's worsening security challenges.

He cited findings by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which identified the abuse of diverted controlled medicines as a major factor associated with banditry, terrorism and violent extremism.

Tanko also referenced the estimated 14.3 million drug users in Nigeria, warning that weak monitoring systems and unregulated drug markets were creating opportunities for drug trafficking and the financing of organised criminal activities.

He cited the November 2025 arrest of a suspected supplier of tramadol, codeine syrup and other drugs to bandits operating across Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states.

He further mentioned the NDLEA's interception of 1.6 million tramadol pills in July 2026 during a cross-border trafficking operation reportedly destined for Kano.

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