12 hours Ago By Our Reporters
Ikenna ObianeriThe National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has intercepted fake drugs in its ongoing enforcement operation at the Onitsha Bridgehead drug market, popularly known as Ogbo-Ogwu in Anambra State.During the exercise, the agency uncovered two trailer loads of unregistered narcotics, banned tramadol, and counterfeit drugs concealed inside plumbing materials shops located within the market.Speaking to journalists at the market during its operation on Friday, the South-East Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Dr.
Martins Iluyomade, stated that based on intelligence gathering, its operatives decided to extend their search to nearby plumbing materials shops.There, they discovered cartons of tramadol and other prohibited drugs neatly hidden inside the shops and covered with plumbing materials.Iluyomade recalled that a few years ago, NAFDAC officials were attacked and injured at the same plumbing materials market when they initially received intelligence about fake drugs being concealed there.
He noted that this time, the agency ensured adequate security before extending its search across the market.He lamented that the quantity of prohibited drugs found in the plumbing materials shops had so far exceeded those discovered in the drug market itself.He added that within two days of searching the plumbing shops, two trailers had been filled with seized drugs, with more still being loaded.
According to him, the scale of the discovery means that NAFDAC may require several days or even weeks to complete the mop-up exercise at the market, which supplies approximately 80 per cent of the drugs circulating within Nigeria and parts of Africa.He said, “The NAFDAC enforcement team, which is conducting the mop-up exercise, has so far uncovered several adulterated, banned, substandard, and expired drugs worth billions of naira from various shops.“The market, consisting of multiple buildings and shops, serves as a hub for repackaging and revalidating expired medicines under false claims, which are then sold to unsuspecting consumers.
“I weep for Nigerians who are sick and purchase drugs to treat themselves, only to find their conditions unchanged or even worsened. This is due to the high influx of fake and dangerous drugs in the market.“As of today, since the enforcement operation began over a week ago, we have so far moved no fewer than 10 fully loaded 40-foot trucks of fake, substandard, and adulterated drugs out of the market.
Some of these drugs even have fraudulent NAFDAC approval claims.”He further explained that the operation, conducted in collaboration with security agencies, market leaders, and other critical stakeholders, is being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser as part of the Federal Government’s ongoing crackdown on counterfeit drug circulation.This has given NAFDAC full authority and backing to carry out the enforcement.
Reaffirming the agency’s commitment to eradicating substandard and falsified drugs in Nigeria, Iluyomade noted, “In China, possession of fake or counterfeit drugs carries the death penalty, but in Nigeria, it is punishable by only a few years in prison with an option of a fine.“NAFDAC has vowed to continue its crackdown on counterfeit and substandard medicines, emphasising the grave health risks posed by these illicit products.“The enforcement operation remains ongoing as officials work to dismantle illegal drug networks and ensure compliance with safety regulations,” he added.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Onitsha Building Materials Traders Association, Chief Ejiofor Chikodi, expressed “shock at the discovery of counterfeit drugs hidden in plumbing materials shops.”Chikodi stated that he had summoned a meeting of market stakeholders, where it was agreed that henceforth, any plumbing materials shop owner found culpable would be fined N500,000.Copyright PUNCH All rights reserved.
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