NAFDAC has reopened Onitsha Market and seized 50 truckloads of faux and substandard medication.
PoliticalNews Nigeria stories that the Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management (NAFDAC) reopened the Onitsha drug market on March 6, following a sanitization operation that started on February 10.
Dr. Martin Iluyomade, Director of Enugu Zone Zonal Operations, introduced the reopening throughout a stakeholders’ assembly on Thursday.
The assembly included representatives from NAFDAC, Anambra State, and the Onitsha market management.
Different markets affected
Along with the drug market, different affected markets included the Plumbing, Wooden, Science Progressive, and Surgical markets.
Iluyomade clarified that the reopening was not meant to penalize neighbouring markets, which had sadly grow to be main warehouse areas for drugs merchants.
Iluyomade emphasised that the operation was primarily based on intensive intelligence gathering and that the closure was mandatory to forestall confrontation with merchants.
“The invention out there was alarming,” he acknowledged, revealing that enormous portions of narcotics able to destabilizing any nation have been recovered.
“We discovered pretend and counterfeit medicines in over 50 trailers, together with banned medication relationship again to 2007,” he added.
Circumstances for reopening
Whereas the market has been reopened, round 4,000 store house owners who have been profiled and suspended should individually go to NAFDAC to clear themselves earlier than resuming enterprise.
Iluyomade additionally highlighted poor storage circumstances throughout the market, which compromised the standard of real medicines.
Authorities and merchants react
He expressed appreciation to Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his assist and dedication to establishing a regular drug market with correct storage services.
Mr. Ndubuisi Chukwulota, Chairman of the Ogbo Ogwu Merchants Affiliation, thanked NAFDAC for reopening the market and pledged merchants’ cooperation in eliminating pretend medication.
Dr. Afam Obidike, Anambra’s Commissioner for Well being, counseled each NAFDAC and the merchants for his or her collaboration and warranted continued efforts to keep up the sanitization of the system.
Extra Insights
The Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management (NAFDAC) not too long ago shut down the Ọgbọ Ọgwụ drug market in Onitsha as a part of its ongoing nationwide clampdown on pretend and substandard medicines.
On February 10, NAFDAC commenced enforcement operations at three main drug distribution hubs: the Idumota open drug market in Lagos, the Ariaria drug market in Aba, and the Bridge Market in Onitsha.
In line with the company, these markets account for over 80% of treatment distribution in Nigeria. The enforcement operations intention to get rid of falsified and unregistered medication from circulation.
In Onitsha alone, NAFDAC seized no fewer than 30 vans stuffed with confiscated medication and shut down over 4,000 outlets.
Earlier, Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, additionally raised considerations over the infiltration of counterfeit and banned medication into the Nigerian market, calling for stronger regulatory motion on the federal stage.
Expressing concern over how such medication enter the nation, he questioned the position of regulatory authorities at Nigeria’s borders.
“How these medication, which have been banned globally and domestically, are nonetheless being manufactured in India, cross via our varied ports (sea and air), and discover their option to our native drug markets stays a query solely the related authorities can reply,” he added.
Whereas supporting efforts to rid the market of faux medication, Soludo known as on the Federal Authorities to strengthen management over drug imports.
Whereas we should rid our nation of faux and counterfeit medication, it will be significant for the Federal Authorities to tighten up the noose on the provision finish of the worth chain.