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, located at Bridgehead in Onitsha, Anambra State. The market was recently shut down by NAFDAC over allegations of massive procurement and distribution of counterfeit drugs.
Addressing reporters in Abuja, the Caucus, led by Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo, condemned the activities of those involved in the sale of fake drugs. They urged NAFDAC to identify and prosecute the culprits responsible for endangering public health.
“While we condemn the sale of counterfeit drugs in the strongest terms, we urge NAFDAC to ensure that only those involved in such illegal activities are held accountable. The entire market should not suffer for the crimes of a few,” Hon. Enwo stated.
The Caucus also called on the Nigerian Customs Service to intensify efforts in safeguarding the country’s borders—land, sea, and air—to prevent the influx of fake and adulterated drugs into Nigeria. They emphasized the need for stronger border control measures to curb the proliferation of substandard pharmaceutical products.
“The Nigerian Customs Service must step up its efforts to secure our borders and prevent the entry of counterfeit drugs. This is crucial to protecting the health and well-being of Nigerians,” the Caucus added.
The lawmakers expressed concern over the impact of the market’s closure on legitimate businesses and the local economy, urging NAFDAC to expedite its investigations and reopen the market as soon as possible.
