ADDRESS BY PHARM. BABALOLA OSABIYA TAIWO, FPSN
Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ondo State.
During a Courtesy Visit to the Commissioner of Police Ondo State on 14th October 2025

The Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal,
Distinguished Officers,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Ondo State Branch, I bring you warm greetings for what you do to secure Ondo State. We commend your command for the remarkable reduction in crime rates across the state since your assumption of office. Your proactive leadership, professionalism, and community engagement have indeed made Ondo State safer, and we deeply appreciate your efforts. One of the ways of showing our appreciation is to donate some health deliverables and Pharmaceuticals into your clinic. However, our visit is impromptu, so we will come back to make some donations to your clinic shortly.

We are here to reaffirm our readiness to support and collaborate with the Command in strengthening the security architecture of our state. As professionals and responsible citizens, we firmly believe in the philosophy of “See Something, Say Something.” We are located in the neighborhood we are always at an advantage to “see something”

Sir, you will agree with me that we need not underscore the importance of Pharmacists in the society as the custodians of medicines. If you cannot get a medicine in a Pharmacy, where would you get it?
The late President of America, JF Kennedy said:
“The Pharmacists are indispensable, if you don’t have one you have to invent“ .Our scope of practice covers research and development, manufacturing, distribution, wholesaling, and retailing, as well as counselling, point-of-care services, and dispensing to produce a favourable outcome. More expanded responsibilities have been bestowed on us as a result of AI and digital technology.

Our license empowers us to handle controlled substances, narcotics, Prescription-Only Medicines (POM), poisons, and over-the-counter preparations.

In certain necessary circumstances, we are empowered to have in our custody small quantities of unregistered drugs without local substitute with the permission of the controlling government agencies, medicines strictly for emergency medical use, dispensed only on prescription, and never in quantities that could suggest misuse or diversion. A dying patient may need it!

As a Society, we maintain strong partnerships with various government agencies in the fight against drug and substance abuse. Every year, we organise enlightenment programmes in secondary schools across the state to educate students on the dangers of drug misuse. We also extend our campaigns to motor parks and community centres, while our members provide valuable information to your officers whenever the need arises.

However, we wish to bring to your kind attention a matter of concern. In recent times, some of our members have had unpleasant encounters with a few of your Officers, in our major towns like Akure and Owo, who visit their premises, often in the evening hours, to make arrests or carry out searches. In the process, some of these officers have interfered with professional areas such as our poison cupboards. There are procedures in the laws guiding every profession as regards Pharmacy inspection and compliance.  We believe these actions were not deliberate, but rather due to a lack of full understanding of the professional boundaries between the roles of the Police, PCN, NAFDAC, and NDLEA. We therefore appeal for your kind intervention to guide your officers appropriately, so that we can all continue to work together harmoniously in the overall interest of the state. We are confident that with your exemplary leadership, this matter will be amicably resolved.

Finally, in the spirit of partnership, we would also be delighted to carry out periodic medical outreaches in any of your formations or approved communities during some of our annual events as part of our corporate social responsibility and our commitment to a healthier, safer, and drug-free society.

Thank you for granting us this audience and for your warm reception. We value your friendship, your service, and your dedication to the peace and security of Ondo State.

We remain your partners in progress.

Thank you and God bless you.

Pharm. Babalola Osabiya Taiwo FPSN
Chairman