FCT Minister charges pharmacist to tackle drug abuse

By Ben Atonko

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muhammad Bello has charged the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) to work in liaison with relevant agencies and the private sector to jointly tackle the menace of drug abuse in Nigeria.
The minister gave this charge when a delegation from the council led by the Chairman of its Governing Council, Prof Ahmed Tijjani Mora paid a courtesy visit to the minister on Tuesday.
Bello said that drug abuse is a huge challenge in Nigeria as many criminal activities can be attributed to it.
According to him, the multiplier effect of the control of drug abuse in Nigeria will be enormous.
He pledged the collaboration of the FCT administration with the PCN especially in the council’s Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee.
Speaking earlier, Prof Mora commended the FCT administration for its very robust approach to drug distribution in FCT.
Present at the event were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola; Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Bashir Mai-Bornu; the Ag Secretary of the Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr Mohammed Kawu; the Registrar of the PCN Dr Elijah Mohammed; and the Ag General Manager, FCT Hospital Management Board, Dr Francis Alu.