Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to take urgent action against the infiltration of globally banned drugs into markets in Onitsha.
Governor Soludo made this appeal on Sunday after visiting Ọgbọ Ogwu, Africa’s largest open drug market, and an adjoining market in Onitsha. During the visit, he highlighted the need for strict enforcement by federal regulatory agencies to curb the sale of counterfeit, fake, and controlled drugs in the region.
Soludo explained that his visit aimed to understand why certain markets, including those near the drug market, had been shut down. He stated that the leadership of the plumbing materials market, which was also affected by the closures, confirmed disturbing discoveries made by regulatory bodies.
“The discoveries made by regulators in some shops within the market were both shocking and disturbing,” the governor stated. He further revealed that cartons of counterfeit and controlled drugs—many of which have been globally banned—were found in these closed shops.
Governor Soludo questioned how such drugs, banned both internationally and locally, were still being manufactured in India, passing through Nigerian ports, and ultimately infiltrating local markets. He urged the Federal Government to strengthen efforts in controlling the supply chain to eliminate the distribution of counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.
Following these developments, Soludo announced that the ongoing crackdown on illegal drugs in the markets would be fast-tracked. He assured that within the next ten days, the affected traders at the plumbing materials market would be allowed to resume legitimate business operations.
“As a government, we are already building a coordinated wholesale drug center in Oba, Idemili South LGA, which will house a new and standardized Ọgbọ Ogwu Market,” he stated. “This initiative is aimed at creating an organized and regulated environment that will curb the sale of fake and counterfeit drugs.”
Soludo reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening Onitsha’s position as Africa’s largest trading hub by implementing appropriate market reforms and development projects.
This development follows an earlier warning by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Three months ago, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed that open-drug markets in Onitsha, Kano, Aba, and Lagos had become hotspots for the distribution of substandard medicines, posing serious public health risks.
NAFDAC has continued its enforcement operations, sealing numerous shops and depots where expired and fake drugs are stored and sold. The agency remains committed to eliminating the circulation of counterfeit medicines in Nigeria’s open markets.
Governor Soludo’s call for federal intervention underscores the urgent need for a collaborative effort between state and federal authorities to rid the country of counterfeit and substandard drugs, ensuirng the safety of Nigerians.
