“NAFDAC Reopens Onitsha Drug Market After Crackdown on Fake Drugs – Latest Update”
(Written by SpringnewsNG Media Limited)
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has officially reopened the Onitsha drug market after weeks of closure following a sanitisation exercise aimed at eliminating counterfeit and banned medicines. The market was shut down on February 10 to prevent possible clashes with traders while the operation was carried out.
Dr. Martin Iluyomade, Director of Enugu Zone Zonal Operations, explained that the temporary closure was necessary to ensure a peaceful and effective operation. According to him, the recovery of a significant quantity of narcotics capable of destabilising any nation underscored the severity of the issue.
As part of the reopening process, owners of approximately 4,000 shops that were profiled and suspended must visit NAFDAC individually to clear themselves before resuming operations. Iluyomade further emphasised the poor storage conditions found in the market, which compromised the quality of genuine medicines, stressing the need for proper pharmaceutical storage practices.
He also expressed gratitude to Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his support and commitment to establishing a standard drug market with adequate storage conditions.
Mr. Ndubuisi Chukwulota, Chairman of the Ogbo Ogwu Traders Association, welcomed the decision to reopen the market and pledged the association’s cooperation in eradicating fake drugs. He assured that traders would comply with NAFDAC’s guidelines to ensure public safety.
Dr. Afam Obidike, Anambra’s Commissioner for Health, commended both NAFDAC and the traders for their collaboration, vowing that the state government would continue to work closely with all stakeholders to maintain the integrity of the market.
The reopening of the Onitsha drug market marks a significant step toward ensuring a safer and more regulated pharmaceutical sector in Nigeria.
