Lawmakers of South East extraction in the House of Representatives are
urging the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to as a matter of urgency, reopen the sealed
Onitsha bridgehead Medicine Market in Anambra State.
Addressing National Assembly newsmen in Abuja, the group condemned the activities of unscrupulous traders involved in the production and distribution of fake and adulterated medications.
The Hon. Igariwey Enwo led caucus also
Called for the prosecution of offenders
emphasizing that the illegal practice poses serious risks to public health, leading to the loss of lives.
They commended NAFDAC for its intervention in combating fake drugs nationwide and expressed concern over the continued lockdown of the market, which serves as a critical hub for medications across the South East and South-South regions.
While acknowledging NAFDAC’s statutory role in eliminating fake drugs, they urged the organization to swiftly prosecute those responsible rather than imposing collective punishment on all traders.
The caucus warned that the indefinite lockdown has severe collateral consequences, especially for public health, as many genuine traders and innocent citizens are also affected.
Recall that NAFDAC had sealed the market after uncovering large-scale counterfeit drug operations.
