Soludo Supports NAFDAC’s Crackdown on Fake Drugs at Onitsha Market, Slams Political Actors

By Our correspondent

Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has thrown his weight behind the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in its efforts to combat fake and counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.

During a visit to the Ọgbọ Ọgwụ market in Onitsha, Africa’s largest open drug market, Soludo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling the sale of fake and counterfeit drugs in the state

The governor’s visit came on the heels of NAFDAC’s closure of the Bridgehead market over fake and counterfeit drugs.

Soludo explained that his visit was aimed at understanding why adjacent markets, including the Plumbing Materials Market, were also shut down.

Contrary to speculation, regulators had uncovered a shocking stockpile of counterfeit and controlled drugs in some shops within the plumbing market.

Soludo called for stricter federal oversight to curb the inflow of illicit drugs into Nigeria, urging relevant authorities to tighten regulations on importation.

He also assured traders in the affected markets that the ongoing search operations would be expedited, setting a deadline of less than 10 days for completion.

As part of a long-term solution, Soludo highlighted his administration’s efforts to build a coordinated wholesale drug centre in Oba, Idemili South LGA.

The facility will house a standardized version of the Ọgbọ Ọgwụ market, ensuring better regulatory oversight and a safer pharmaceutical trade environment.

Reaffirming Onitsha’s status as the largest trading hub in Africa, Soludo pledged to elevate the city’s commercial standing while ensuring the health and safety of its residents.

Hear the governor: I visited the Ọgbọ ogwu and adjoining market today in Onitsha. As the biggest open drug market in Africa, it is not surprising that Federal Agencies and regulatory bodies would, from time to time, visit the market to enforce standards and check the sale of fake, counterfeit, and controlled drugs in the market.

With drugs and related matters captured strictly on the exclusive list, my visit today was interventionist. First, I sought to ascertain why other markets close to the drug market in Onitsha were closed.

Away from the media sensation created by a few political actors, the leadership of the Plumbing materials market, which was shut down alongside the drug market, confirmed to me that the discoveries made by the Regulators in some shops in the plumbing material market were both shocking and disturbing.

Right inside these shops were found cartons of counterfeit and controlled drugs, many of which had been banned globally. How these drugs, which have been banned globally and locally, are still being manufactured in India, pass through our various ports (sea and air), and find their way to our local drug markets remains a question only the relevant authorities can answer.

While we must rid our country of fake and counterfeit drugs, it is important for the Federal Government to tighten up the noose on the supply end of the value chain. I have directed that the search, which had commenced a few days ago, be expedited so that in less than 10 days from today, the traders at the Plumbing materials market can be allowed to reopen and commence their legitimate commercial activities.

As a government, we are already building a coordinated wholesale drug centre in Oba, Idemili South LGA, that will accommodate the new and standardized Ogbo ogwu market. This is our own contribution to ending the current chaotic market environment where fake and counterfeit drugs thrive.

ONITSHA remains the largest trading hub in Africa, we will further expand this status to a more befitting height.

May Anambra Continue to win!