By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, is set to introduce sweeping technology-driven reforms ahead of the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, including a pre-registration mobile application, stricter biometric verification and a system that will automatically block candidates from selecting wrong subject combinations.

The reforms, which are aimed at reducing registration difficulties, preventing examination malpractice and strengthening the credibility of the admission process, will also give candidates access to vital admission information before making their course and institution choices.

JAMB Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, disclosed the plans on Saturday in Abuja, saying the proposed pre-registration application would enable prospective candidates to complete key registration procedures from the comfort of their homes before visiting accredited centres for final registration.

Aina spoke after a five-kilometre fitness walk organised for the board’s staff as part of activities to prepare for the 2027 UTME.

He explained that the application would allow candidates to retrieve their personal information from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), fill in their biodata, and select preferred subjects, courses, and institutions ahead of the actual registration.

According to him, the application would also provide candidates with advance academic guidance, including information on the previous year’s entry marks for their preferred courses.

The initiative, he said, would help candidates make more realistic academic choices based on their abilities and available admission requirements, rather than making uninformed selections that could jeopardise their chances of securing admission.

“There are a lot of innovations that are coming up. Now we are rolling out what we are calling a pre-registration application.

“It’s a mobile application that allows you, from the comfort of your own home, to get your details from NIMC, register with your biodata, select your subjects, your courses and your institution.

“During that process, we will be giving some advanced advisory that we didn’t use to give before. For instance, when you are trying to select a course, you will see an idea of what the entry marks for that course were in the previous year,” he said.

The registrar said the application would significantly reduce the time candidates spend at registration centres, particularly during the capture of their biometric information.

Beyond making registration easier, Aina said JAMB was also working on a system that would make it technically impossible for candidates to submit applications containing incorrect subject combinations for their chosen courses.

He noted that candidates had, in previous examinations, made subject selections that were incompatible with their preferred courses, sometimes creating avoidable difficulties in their admission pursuits.

“We are going to make that technically impossible, which means you cannot progress with your application if the subject combination is wrong. And a lot of other innovations are coming,” he said.

On examination security, the JAMB boss said the board would strengthen biometric verification at examination centres to prevent impersonation, malpractice and other irregularities.

He explained that although the board had introduced some concessions to reduce the difficulties candidates encounter when correcting their biodata, such flexibility would be matched with stricter identity checks during the examination.

“We have given up some ground and made some concessions to reduce trauma for the candidates in terms of being able to change their biodata and things like that.

“And in exchange for that, we will be applying enhanced checks at the point of the examination to make sure that we protect the integrity of the system,” Aina stated.

In another innovation, candidates sitting for the 2027 UTME will have the opportunity to report examination questions they consider faulty through a dedicated button on the computer-based test platform.

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has dismissed allegations by the Chairman of the Kano State Multi-Agency Taskforce on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, that the council is shielding drug dealers and facilitating the distribution of illicit substances in Kano State.

The PCN described the allegations as baseless, misleading and an attempt to undermine its statutory responsibilities, insisting that it remains committed to regulating pharmaceutical practices and preventing the unauthorised distribution of drugs across the country.

The council stated this in a press statement issued on Saturday, November 14, 2026, and signed by Pharm. Hasiya Ladan, Consultant Pharmacist at the PCN Kano State Office, on behalf of the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer.

The statement followed a press conference addressed by Rimin Gado in Kano, during which he accused federal regulatory agencies, particularly the PCN and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), of aiding and protecting individuals involved in illicit drug distribution.

According to the PCN, the task force chairman alleged that the council had compromised its regulatory responsibilities by protecting officers suspected of facilitating the unauthorised circulation of pharmaceutical products.

The council said Rimin Gado also questioned the circumstances surrounding the issuance of import licences to pharmaceutical companies dealing in pregabalin, particularly following its rescheduling as a controlled drug by NAFDAC on September 14, 2026.

The PCN further quoted the task force chairman as alleging that the council registered a pharmaceutical premises at No. 10 Apple Avenue, a residential location, which he claimed was being used as a concealed distribution outlet for controlled medicines.

The statement said Rimin Gado also alleged that some PCN staff members were deeply involved in clandestine pharmaceutical businesses, which he claimed explained their opposition to other agencies participating in the regulation of pharmaceutical premises.

However, the council rejected the allegations, arguing that the chairman’s statements created the impression that federal regulatory agencies were criminally liable for aiding and abetting illicit drug distribution in Kano State.

Explaining its legal mandate, the council stated that it is a federal government agency under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, established by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2022.

According to the statement, the council is responsible for regulating and controlling pharmacy education, training, practice and business in all their aspects, including the regulation of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors and medical devices.

The PCN maintained that drugs and poisons fall under the Exclusive Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, specifically Item 21 of Part I of the Second Schedule, making their regulation a federal responsibility exercised through legally established agencies.

It cited the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, NAFDAC, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other legally constituted regulatory structures as institutions involved in the enforcement of relevant laws governing pharmaceutical products and controlled substances.

The council also faulted Rimin Gado’s assertion that it was claiming exclusive authority over pharmaceutical premises regulation, saying the position had been established by constitutional provisions, judicial pronouncements and other legal instruments.

It cited the Supreme Court judgment in Pharmacists Board of Nigeria v. Franklin Adegbesote (1986) 5 NWLR (Pt. 44) 707, as well as a Federal High Court judgment in Kano in Suit No. FHC/KN/CS/152/2023 delivered on February 16, 2024.

The statement also referenced National Assembly resolutions of 2018 and 2025 and a letter written on March 28, 2001, by the then Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, SAN, to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Rivers State.

The PCN argued that these legal authorities and institutional positions had sufficiently clarified its statutory responsibility, adding that Rimin Gado, being a lawyer, ought to be familiar with the relevant legal provisions.

Responding to allegations that it lacked the manpower to effectively regulate pharmaceutical premises in Kano, the council described its regulatory structure as robust and established across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

According to the statement, the council operates through two major committees in every state, namely the Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee (PIC) and the Patent and Proprietary Medicines Vendors Licence Committee (PPMVLC).

The PCN explained that both committees are chaired by Directors of Pharmaceutical Services in the respective State Ministries of Health, who represent state governments in the regulatory process.

It added that state chairmen of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria serve as vice-chairmen of the committees, while PCN officers, experienced pharmacists and other appointed inspectors participate in inspections and make recommendations for the licensing of pharmaceutical premises.

The council clarified that its officer-in-charge in each state serves as secretary to the committees and provides secretariat support, rather than independently determining the licensing of pharmaceutical facilities.

It therefore rejected the suggestion that its regulatory effectiveness was limited by the number of officers available in Kano, explaining that it had the capacity to mobilise adequate human resources whenever necessary.

The PCN further stated that its regulatory capacity had been recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) during Nigeria’s Global Benchmarking assessment for Maturity Level 3.

According to the council, PCN and NAFDAC are the only national regulatory authorities in Africa that have achieved and retained the global regulatory ranking.

On the controversy surrounding the importation of pregabalin and other controlled medicines, the PCN clarified that the issuance of import licences to pharmaceutical importation companies falls within its statutory mandate.

The council explained that NAFDAC, on the other hand, is responsible for issuing product permits specifying the categories and quantities of products that may be imported into the country.

It maintained that the two agencies perform different but complementary regulatory functions, insisting that the issuance of an import licence by the PCN should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of illegal distribution.

The council further argued that unless there was evidence establishing that drugs were illegally distributed from the premises in question, the task force chairman could not reasonably accuse it of wrongdoing.

Addressing the allegation involving No. 10 Apple Avenue, the council said Rimin Gado failed to identify specific provisions of the Land Use Act allegedly violated through the registration of the pharmaceutical premises.

The PCN explained that its Pharmaceutical Premises Location, Inspection, Structure, Monitoring and Enforcement Regulations, 2022, clearly stipulate the requirements for the registration and location of pharmaceutical facilities.

According to the statement, the regulations do not prohibit the registration of pharmaceutical premises in residential areas, provided the facilities satisfy other statutory requirements.

The council maintained that determining whether a property allocated for residential purposes could be used for pharmaceutical business was not part of the criteria considered by the PCN when granting location approval.

It consequently described the allegation that it facilitated unlawful activities through the registration of the premises as a baseless accusation capable of misleading the public.

The council said it had made significant progress in recent years by bringing previously unregulated drug sellers operating in open markets under its regulatory control, including the closure of illegal pharmaceutical outlets.

Providing details of its enforcement activities, the council disclosed that its national enforcement team visited 11 states in 2026, with Kano State receiving two separate visits in April and September.

According to the statement, the enforcement operations covered 9,908 pharmaceutical outlets across the 11 states, out of which 6,838 were sealed for various regulatory offences.

In Kano State alone, the council said it visited 2,304 pharmaceutical outlets and sealed 1,631 facilities for different violations of pharmaceutical regulations.

The PCN added that investigations into 15 cases were still ongoing, stressing that the figures did not include routine enforcement operations conducted by its Kano State Office.

The council said the figures demonstrated its commitment to tackling illegal pharmaceutical activities and ensuring that drug distribution was carried out in accordance with established regulations.

The PCN also rejected the task force chairman’s claim that its alleged activities at No. 10 Apple Avenue had undermined the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) initiative in Kano.

The council explained that the CWC was developed by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and was being implemented by the PCN to address the challenges associated with open drug markets.

According to the statement, the initiative was specifically designed to relocate identified and verified pharmaceutical traders operating in open drug markets, particularly the Sabon Gari drug market and other identified clusters in Kano State.

It clarified that the initiative did not prohibit independent pharmaceutical wholesalers, distributors, importers and warehouse operators from establishing individual facilities for their businesses outside the coordinated wholesale centres.

The council therefore described the allegation that it had compromised the rationale behind the CWC through the registration of individual pharmaceutical premises as incorrect.

It further disclosed that CWC development was ongoing in Lagos, Anambra and Imo states, while Abia, Kaduna, Oyo and Gombe states had secured approvals but were yet to commence development.

On the allegation that some PCN officers were involved in clandestine pharmaceutical businesses, the council said Rimin Gado failed to provide specific names, examples or documented cases to support the claim.

The PCN stated that it takes allegations of professional misconduct against its staff seriously and invited the task force chairman to submit any evidence in his possession for appropriate investigation.

It warned that making sweeping allegations against public officers through the media without providing supporting evidence would not assist the fight against drug abuse and illicit pharmaceutical activities.

The council expressed surprise that a public officer and legal practitioner would accuse other public officials of involvement in clandestine businesses and fraudulent activities without presenting verifiable evidence.

It described the allegations as reprehensible and an attempt to smear the image of the regulatory institution.

The council also highlighted its existing monitoring mechanism for the distribution of controlled drugs, saying it had introduced a system to ensure proper documentation and accountability across pharmaceutical premises.

According to the statement, the PCN, with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), NAFDAC and other stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector, developed and deployed the Disposal of Poison Records, known as Form K.

The council explained that the form requires all categories of pharmaceutical premises, including hospitals, to document controlled substances sold, distributed or dispensed.

It added that pharmaceutical facilities found negligent in maintaining the required records were liable to appropriate regulatory sanctions.

The PCN said the monitoring mechanism demonstrated its commitment to preventing unauthorised distribution and misuse of controlled medicines.

The council reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health by ensuring that pharmaceutical premises operate within the provisions of existing laws and regulations.

It called on individuals, organisations and relevant government agencies to collaborate with it in promoting access to safe and quality pharmaceutical products and services.

The PCN stressed that the fight against illicit drugs and the unauthorised use of controlled medicines required collective responsibility among regulatory agencies and security institutions.

It, however, warned that the campaign against drug abuse should not become an avenue for institutional intimidation, unsubstantiated allegations or attempts to undermine the statutory responsibilities of established regulatory agencies.

The council said it welcomed credible investigations into alleged violations of pharmaceutical laws, including allegations involving its officers and registered pharmaceutical premises.

It also encouraged members of the public and regulated stakeholders to report suspected misconduct through its dedicated reporting channels, assuring that credible complaints would receive appropriate attention.

Dangote Industries Limited has restated its commitment to expanding investments in Northern Nigeria’s agricultural sector, in alignment with the government’s agenda to strengthen food security, boost agricultural productivity and create employment opportunities.

A statement from the Group Chief, Branding and Corporate Communication Officer of the company, Mr. Anthony Chiejina, said Dangote Group is deepening its commitment to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation through strategic investments in mechanised agriculture, advancing major rice milling projects in northern states, alongside sugar backward-integration investments.

The statement quoted the company’s Regional Director and Senior Adviser to the Group President, Mrs Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, as saying: “These initiatives are designed to strengthen domestic food production, stimulate agro-industrial development, create employment and unlock the vast agricultural potential of Northern Nigeria.

Mrs. Wali-Abdurrahman said the Group’s fertiliser business represents a major contribution to Nigeria’s agricultural development, providing locally manufactured inputs that can help farmers improve productivity, enhance soil fertility and increase crop yields.

She disclosed that Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) is sponsoring the 2026 National Agricultural Show, scheduled to open on Monday, November 16, as part of its continued efforts to support and advance agricultural development in Nigeria.

The Agricultural Show, organised under the auspices of the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria, will be formally declared open by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari.

The statement said the Group’s engagement also places emphasis on inclusive participation, particularly by encouraging greater involvement of women and young people, who remain essential to the future of agriculture and agribusiness in Nigeria.

It said the Group’s vision is to contribute to a more productive, competitive and self-sufficient agricultural sector, positioning Nigeria to harness its enormous agricultural potential, strengthen food security and become a major player in Africa’s agricultural economy.

Meanwhile, speaking to newsmen in Abuja, National Coordinator, National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN) Hajiya Aishatu Rufa’I Ibrahim, said this year’s Show is guided by the theme: Building a Resilient Nigerian Agrifood System: Empowering Farmers, Mobilizing Investment and Driving Innovation for Food Security and Shared Prosperity.

Mrs. Ibrahim said: “This year’s Agric Show is unique because it goes beyond the traditional exhibition of agricultural products. It provides a strategic platform for connecting farmers, investors, policymakers, technology providers and other stakeholders to develop practical solutions to Nigeria’s food security challenges.’

She described NAFN’s relationship with the Dangote Group as instrumental to its success in fostering private-sector partnerships that support Nigeria’s drive for agricultural development, industrialisation and food security.

She said: “The Dangote Group remains an important reference point in Nigeria’s investment landscape, and we appreciate its contributions to the country’s economic development.”

She added: “The message of the Foundation to Alhaji Aliko Dangote is to urge him to continue to expand his investment footprints in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. His experience in large-scale industrial investment can help transform agriculture through mechanization, agro-processing, storage, logistics and commodity production.

“The country needs more indigenous investors of his calibre to see agriculture not merely as farming but as a major business opportunity capable of generating wealth, creating jobs and securing Nigeria’s food future.”