The House of Representatives South-East caucus has called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to reopen the Onitsha Bridgehead Market in Anambra State.
The caucus emphasized that reopening the market would enable those who rely on it for their livelihoods to continue legitimate business operations and support their families.
Iduma Igariwey, the caucus leader (PDP, Ebonyi), made the appeal during a press conference at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
It was noted that NAFDAC had previously sealed over 4,000 shops in Onitsha, 4,000 in Aba, and 3,027 in Lagos, as part of its nationwide crackdown on fake and substandard medicines.
While the caucus condemned the criminals involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit and dangerous drugs—whose actions endanger public health and have cost lives—they also urged NAFDAC to avoid punishing innocent, legitimate traders. Igariwey described the criminals as “death merchants and economic saboteurs.”
He commended NAFDAC’s efforts in tackling these “merchants of death” across the country, but stressed the importance of not penalizing lawful businesspeople and consumers due to the wrongdoings of a few.
Igariwey explained that the closure of the entire market had caused significant collateral damage, particularly harming medicine users in the South-East and South-South regions. He said, “While we acknowledge NAFDAC’s statutory role in combating fake drugs, we urge them to swiftly arrest and prosecute those responsible for their production and distribution.”
He further noted, “The wholesale and indefinite closure of a market that supplies over 90 percent of the medication needs of the South-East and South-South may not be the best approach. Many traders in the market are legitimate businesspeople.”
To avoid further harm to genuine traders, Igariwey urged NAFDAC to prosecute offenders while sanitizing the pharmaceutical sector, whether in Onitsha, Aba, Lagos, or Kano. He also called on the Nigeria Customs Service to enhance efforts in securing land, sea, and air borders to prevent the entry of counterfeit drugs into the country.
George Ozodinobi, the lawmaker representing Njikoka/Dunukofia/Anaocha Federal Constituency in Anambra State, echoed these concerns, urging NAFDAC to consider the struggles of those who depend on daily medication.
“We support NAFDAC in its fight against fake drugs, but reopening this market will allow legitimate traders to earn a living while ensuring access to genuine medication,” he added.
