HOR : S/E Caucus Urges NAFDAC To Re-open Onitsha Bridgehead Market

The South East Caucus in the House of Representatives is urging the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to consider reopening the Onitsha Bridgehead Market in Anambra, which was sealed due to the sale of fake and substandard medicines.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, the caucus leader, Igariwey Enwo, condemned the activities of unscrupulous traders in the market, describing them as “death merchants and economic saboteurs.”

However, he also urged NAFDAC not to punish innocent and genuine traders, as well as medicine users, alongside the alleged criminals.

“NAFDAC had sealed over 4,000 shops in Onitsha, 3,027 shops in Lagos, and 4,000 shops in Aba as part of its nationwide operations to clamp down on fake and substandard medicines”

Enwo, who is the member representing Afikpo North/Afikpo South federal constituency of Ebonyi State, acknowledged NAFDAC’s efforts but emphasized the need to avoid collective punishment on all traders in the market.

The caucus urged NAFDAC to quickly arrest and prosecute those responsible for producing and distributing fake drugs and to sanitize the entire medical ecosystem.

They also called on the Nigerian Customs Service to better protect the country’s borders to prevent the influx of fake and adulterated drugs.

Also speaking representing Isiala Mbano/Okigwe/Onuimo federal constituency, Princess Odinaka Onuoha noted that the sealing of the market has had a significant impact on medicine users in the South East and South South zones, with the caucus noting that the market caters to over 90% of the medication needs of these regions.

Other members at the conference include members representing Njikoka/ Anaocha and Dunukofia Federal Constituency George Ozodinobi,
Member
representing Ogbaru constituency of Anambra State
Afam Victor Ogene, Member representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency of Enugu State, Nnolim Nnaji,

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji