Benue Govt Partners Pharmacists to Curb Fake, Counterfeit Drugs

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Benue State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strategic partnerships aimed at safeguarding residents from fake and counterfeit drugs.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, made this known while receiving members of the Benue State Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee (PIC) and the Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors Licensing Committee (PPMVLC) during a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Makurdi.
Dr. Ogwuche restated the resolve of the Governor Hyacinth Alia-led administration to build a resilient, people-centred, and future-ready healthcare system that meets the needs of all Benue citizens.
The delegation, led by the Chairperson of the Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee in Benue State, Pharmacist Regina Mngohol Chichi-Agir, also included Pharm. Cyprian Terungwa Njoalu, Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Benue State Branch; Pharm. Christopher Onoja of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Benue State Branch; and Pharm. Hawa Nyigba, the Benue State Officer of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.
In his remarks, Dr. Ogwuche described pharmacists and pharmaceutical regulators as indispensable partners in actualising Governor Alia’s transformative vision for the health sector. He praised their professionalism, commitment, and regulatory roles, stressing that effective drug regulation remains fundamental to quality healthcare delivery.
The Commissioner noted that the Alia administration is driven by tangible results rather than rhetoric, citing ongoing reforms, system strengthening, and institutional rebuilding across the health sector. He added that such progress would not have been possible without the collective efforts of health professionals and regulatory agencies working collaboratively with government.
Dr. Ogwuche further called for strengthened collaboration between the State Ministry of Health and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, assuring that the Ministry remains open to partnerships that will protect the populace from fake and counterfeit medicines, encourage rational drug use, and improve healthcare services, especially in rural and underserved areas.
He also urged stakeholders, professionals, traditional institutions, and the general public to support Governor Alia’s administration and align with its reform agenda to ensure the delivery of greater democratic dividends to the people of Benue State.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Benue State Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee, Pharmacist Regina Mngohol Chichi-Agir, explained that the two visiting statutory committees under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria are responsible for regulating pharmaceutical practice, inspecting premises, licensing medicine vendors, and protecting public health across the state.
She highlighted the committees’ contributions to public safety and revenue generation, while drawing attention to challenges including inadequate funding, insecurity, the proliferation of unregistered medicine outlets, and the urgent need to establish a functional State Taskforce on Fake and Counterfeit Drugs.
Pharmacist Chichi-Agir commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for his bold leadership, people-focused policies, and renewed emphasis on impactful governance, describing him as a leader laying a strong foundation for sustainable development and long-term benefits in Benue State.
The delegation expressed confidence in the leadership of Dr. Paul Ogwuche, describing him as a focused technocrat whose stewardship of the Ministry of Health continues to translate the Governor’s vision into concrete outcomes.
She assured the Commissioner of their continued cooperation, as both parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to public health, regulatory excellence, and the overall wellbeing of the people of Benue State.