Reopen Onitsha market, South-East Reps urge NAFDAC

The Home of Representatives South-East caucus has referred to as on the Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management to reopen the Onitsha Bridgehead Market in Anambra State within the curiosity of the general public.

The caucus argued that reopening the market would permit these whose livelihoods rely upon it to conduct authentic enterprise and earn a dwelling.

The chief of the caucus, Iduma Igariwey (PDP, Ebonyi), made the enchantment in Abuja throughout a press convention on the Nationwide Meeting Advanced on Tuesday.

NAFDAC had sealed over 4,000 retailers in Onitsha, 3,027 in Lagos, and one other 4,000 in Aba as a part of its nationwide clampdown on faux and substandard medicines.

Whereas condemning criminals concerned within the manufacturing and distribution of pretend and adulterated drugs, the caucus famous that their actions not solely endanger public well being however have additionally led to the lack of lives.

Describing them as “loss of life retailers and financial saboteurs,” Igariwey careworn that their clandestine actions function exterior authorities scrutiny and regulation.

Igariwey additionally recommended NAFDAC for its efforts in tackling these “retailers of loss of life” throughout the nation.

Nonetheless, he urged the company to not punish harmless and bonafide merchants, in addition to medication customers, as a result of actions of a prison few.

He defined that shutting down the whole market has induced vital collateral harm, notably affecting medication customers within the South-East and South-South areas.

He stated, “Whereas we acknowledge NAFDAC’s statutory function in combating faux medicine, we urge them to swiftly arrest and prosecute these chargeable for their manufacturing and distribution.

“The wholesale and indefinite closure of a market that provides over 90 per cent of the treatment wants of the South-East and South-South is probably not the perfect method. Many merchants out there are real businesspeople.

“To keep away from punishing all merchants at Onitsha Bridgehead Market, which stays on lockdown, and contemplating the broader affect on public well being, we urge NAFDAC to resolve the problem by prosecuting offenders and sanitising the pharmaceutical sector, whether or not in Onitsha, Aba, Lagos, or Kano.”

He additionally referred to as on the Nigeria Customs Service to step up efforts in securing land, sea, and air borders to forestall the inflow of pretend and adulterated medicine into the nation.

On his half, the lawmaker representing Njikoka/Dunukofia/Anaocha Federal Constituency in Anambra State, George Ozodinobi, urged NAFDAC to think about the plight of those that depend on day by day treatment for his or her well being situations.

“We assist NAFDAC in its combat in opposition to faux medicine, however reopening this market will permit authentic merchants to earn a dwelling whereas guaranteeing entry to real treatment,” he stated.