Southeast lawmakers kick against lockdown of drug markets

…says market caters for over 90% of medicine needs in region, demands quick resolution

The South East Caucus of the House of Representatives have criticised the continued closure of Onitsha Medicine Market by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), following a recent raid targeting counterfeit and substandard drugs.

The caucus who stated their position during a press briefing at the National Assembly Complex on Tuesday also condemned the nefarious activities of unscrupulous traders and so-called businessmen and women, who peddle and engage in the business of production and distribution of fake, adulterated and unwholesome medications and drugs, which they pass on to the unsuspecting public.

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They however argued that the current approach by NAFDAC could have dire consequences on the public health, given that the market supplies over 90% of the medicine in the Southeast and South-South regions. They also emphasised that many traders within the market are legitimate business owners.

The Cacus urged the agency to quickly resolve the situation and prosecute the offenders. Igariwey Enwo, South East Caucus Leader said, ” The caucus commends NAFDAC for their intervention in halting the unconscionable activities of these merchants of death all over the country. However, while we are mindful of NAFDAC’s statutory role in curbing and stamping out of fake drugs in the country, we urge them to quickly arrest and prosecute those responsible for the production and distribution of these fake drugs.

“Therefore, to avoid a situation of visiting collective punishment on all the traders of Onitsha Bridgehead, which is currently in a state of lockdown, and considering the wider collateral effect of the lockdown on the health needs of the larger population, we urge NAFDAC to quickly resolve the situation by prosecuting the offenders, sanitizing the entire medical ecosystem, whether in Onitsha bridge head market, or in Aba, Lagos or Kano”, he said.

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The leaders further called out the Nigerian Customs Services to stand up to their responsibilities by ensuring that the land, sea and air boarders are better protected, to nip in the bud the influx of fake and adulterated drugs into this country.