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The House Southeast Caucus calls on the National Food and Drug Administration and control agencies to reopen the Onitsha Bridgehead market in Anambra.
The caucus said reopening the market would allow those who rely on it to conduct legal business and make a living.
At a press conference held at the National Assembly Complex on Tuesday, February 25, the leader of the caucus Iduma Igariwey (PDP, Ebonyi) appealed in Abuja.
Recall that Nafdac seals over 4,000 stores in Onitsha, ABA and 3,027 stores in Lagos as part of its nationwide effort on fake and unqualified drugs.
In condemning criminals involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit and adulterated drugs, the Caucus noted that their activities not only endanger public health, but also resulted in the loss of life.
Igariwey describes them as “@ther in@th businessmen and economic disruptors.”
Igariwey also praised NAFDAC’s efforts to address these “dead merchants” nationwide.
However, he urged the agency not to punish innocent and legal businessmen and medical users for the actions of a few criminals.
He explained that closing the entire market has caused serious collateral damage, especially affecting drug users in the Southeast and South-South regions.
He said: “While we acknowledge the statutory role of NAFDAC in combating fake drugs, we urge them to quickly arrest and prosecute those responsible for their production and distribution.
“Wholesale and indefinite closing of markets that offer more than 90% of drug demand in the Southeast and South-South markets may not be the best way to do it. Many of the merchants on the market are real merchants.
“To avoid punishing all traders in the locked Onitsha Bridgehead market and considering the wider impact on public health, we urge the NAFDAC to be urged by prosecuting criminals and in Onitsha, Aba, Lagos or Lagos or Lagos or ABA, or Kano.”
He also called on Nigeria’s Customs Services Department to step up efforts to protect land, ocean and air borders to prevent the flow of counterfeit and adulterated drugs into the country.
George Ozodinobi, a lawmaker representing the Njikoka/Dunukofia/Anaocha federal constituency, also urged NAFDAC to consider the plight of people who rely on daily medication health conditions.
“We support the NAFDAC’s fight against fake drugs, but reopening the market will enable legal businessmen to make a living while ensuring access to real drugs,” he said.
