The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the reopening of the Onitsha Drug Market and other adjoining markets after nearly one month of closure. The decision was disclosed by the South-East Zonal Director of the agency, Mr. Martins Iluyomade, following a meeting with officials of the Anambra State government and market union leaders on Thursday.
Business activities in the markets are set to officially resume on Friday. The closure, which affected markets such as the plumbing materials market, timber market, surgical materials market, and science laboratory materials market, was part of NAFDAC's efforts to combat the circulation of illicit and substandard drugs.
During the announcement, Iluyomade explained the rationale behind the extensive closure, stating that the operation was necessary to address the widespread issue of fake and harmful drugs.
“What is happening here goes beyond only Ogbogwu (drug) market; it extends to other markets around this area, and that was why we took the steps we did by closing down everywhere,” he said.
Iluyomade revealed that the agency confiscated over 50 trailers of fake and substandard drugs during the operation. He also highlighted the alarming volume of narcotics discovered, linking their circulation to the rise in insecurity across the country.
“The number of narcotics we have found here is alarming. The people dealing in them know the effects, but they continue because the sale of narcotics is said to be more lucrative than cocaine,” he added.
The zonal director also expressed concern over the storage conditions of drugs in the markets, noting that many genuine medicines were stored in ways that rendered them ineffective or harmful.
“Drug storage is also a problem. There is no ventilation in any of the storage facilities we visited. Medicines are supposed to be kept under specific conditions to maintain their effectiveness,” he said.
Iluyomade commended Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for his support during the operation. He emphasized that the governor’s intervention helped to prevent ethnic tensions and reinforced the need to sanitize the market.
“The governor said there was a need for us to save ourselves because fake drugs kill indiscriminately, regardless of ethnicity,” Iluyomade stated.
While the markets will reopen on Friday, approximately 4,000 shops will remain closed until their owners provide explanations for certain drugs found on their premises.
Market union leaders have pledged to cooperate with NAFDAC to identify and report traders involved in illegal drug activities.
Iluyomade warned that any future attacks on NAFDAC officials or recurrence of illegal drug activities would result in another shutdown of the markets.
“If this happens again, we will still close the market. Also, we will not tolerate any attack on our officials. If it happens again, we will shut down the market,” he declared.
The reopening of the markets marks a significant step in NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to eradicate fake and substandard drugs in Nigeria, ensuring the safety and well-being of the public.
DAILY MENTOR reports that this operation underscores the agency’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s healthcare system and combating the menace of counterfeit drugs.