3 hours ago
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ABUJA – The South-South Caucus in the 10th House of Representatives has called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately reopen the Onitsha Medicine Market at the Bridge Head, Onitsha, Anambra State.
The market was recently shut down by NAFDAC following concerns over the alleged widespread distribution of fake and counterfeit drugs.
Addressing journalists covering the House of Representatives in Abuja on Tuesday, the Caucus, led by Rt. Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo, expressed strong condemnation of the activities of individuals involved in the sale of counterfeit drugs. The Caucus, however, stressed the importance of distinguishing between genuine traders and those responsible for the illegal activities.
Recall that on the 10th of February 2025, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed three major open drug markets in the country, including Idumota in Lagos, Onitsha, and Ariaria, as part of its ongoing efforts to eliminate fake medicines in Nigeria.
The enforcement operation targeted major distributors suspected of supplying counterfeit drugs to pharmacies and hospitals across the state.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s Director General, confirmed that the raid was part of the effort to rid the market of substandard medicines.
He said, “The purpose of this operation is to ensure that when we take medicines, they actually work. When a child is given medicine, that child doesn’t die because there is nothing inside that medicine to cure him or her.
According to the Caucus, “As a responsible body, we strongly condemn the reprehensible actions of dishonest traders and so-called businesspeople who engage in the production and distribution of counterfeit, adulterated, and substandard medications. These harmful practices put the health and well-being of the public at serious risk, and we stand firmly against such unscrupulous activities that exploit the unsuspecting consumer.
“To say the least, their actions not only threaten public health, but have also directly or indirectly resulted in the loss of lives. In addition, these ‘merchants of death’ can be seen as economic saboteurs, as their covert operations evade both government oversight and taxation.
In light of this, the Caucus commended the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for their decisive intervention in halting the reprehensible activities of these dangerous individuals across the country.
“While we acknowledge NAFDAC’s essential role in combating the spread of counterfeit drugs, we strongly urge the agency to expedite the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the production and distribution of these harmful substances.”
The wholesale and indefinite closure of a market that supplies over ninety percent of the medication needs in the South East and South South regions may not be the most effective approach. This is particularly true when considering that many traders in this market are legitimate businesspeople.
To avoid unfairly punishing all traders in the Onitsha Bridgehead market, which is currently under lockdown, we urge NAFDAC to address the issue promptly by prosecuting the offenders. It is also essential to sanitize the entire medical ecosystem, not only in Onitsha but also in other major markets like Aba, Lagos, and Kano.
Furthermore, the Caucus calls on the Nigerian Customs Service to take greater responsibility in securing the nation’s borders, land, sea, and air, to prevent the entry of counterfeit and adulterated drugs into the country.
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