NAFDAC reopens Anambra drug market Friday

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the reopening of the Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, after a one-month closure.

The South-East Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Dr Martins Iluyomade, disclosed this on Thursday following a meeting with state government officials, led by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Ben Obidike, and market leaders at the market premises.

According to Iluyomade, the market will officially reopen on Friday.

Iluyomade explained that the decision came after persistent intervention by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and an agreement signed by the market leaders to refrain from the sale of fake, expired, and substandard products.

He stated, “During the enforcement exercise that lasted three weeks, the agency under my watch uncovered 50 trailer loads of fake and expired drugs, a large volume of narcotics capable of destabilising the country, and numerous drugs banned since 2007.”

Iluyomade emphasized that reopening the market would not halt ongoing enforcement efforts, adding that a total of 4,000 shops had been sealed for various offences and would only reopen after proper profiling.

He revealed that the confiscated fake and expired drugs were valued at no less than N1 trillion.

He also praised Soludo for his unwavering support in the fight against fake and expired drugs, saying, “We commend the leadership of the markets for working with the agency throughout the period of the operations.”

In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Health, Obidike, thanked NAFDAC on behalf of the governor and urged traders to adhere strictly to the terms of the agreement with the agency.

Culled from Punch