Leaders Of Anambra Drug Market Distance Themselves From Anti-NAFDAC Protest

Leaders Of Anambra Drug Market Distance Themselves From Anti-NAFDAC Protest

The leadership of the Ogbo-Ogwu Bridgehead Drug Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, has officially distanced itself from the protest organized by some traders against the continued closure of their shops by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

On Tuesday, a group of dissatisfied traders, known as the ‘Concerned and Genuine Members of Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market,’ took to the streets in protest. They expressed frustration over the ongoing closure of their businesses, citing significant financial hardship and personal suffering caused by the closures. The protesters carried placards and marched through the market, claiming that the closure had led to the deaths of at least five traders and caused many others to fall ill due to stress and lack of income. They also alleged that NAFDAC demanded a sum of N2 million from each trader before their shops would be reopened….READ MORE…

The closures resulted from NAFDAC’s enforcement operation aimed at eliminating counterfeit, unregistered, and banned drugs from the market. In response, the market leadership, led by Caretaker Chairman Ndubuisi Chukwuleta, addressed the media on Thursday, asserting that the protesters were not legitimate traders in the Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market. Chukwuleta, supported by other market executives, appealed to NAFDAC, the Federal Government, the Anambra State Government, and the public to ignore the protest and stated that the market’s leadership does not support the actions of the protesters.

Chukwuleta accused a “faceless group” of sponsoring the protest to undermine the market leadership’s efforts to address the issue. He emphasized that the market fully supports NAFDAC’s efforts to clean up the market and remove fake and counterfeit drugs. He also clarified that while the market remains closed, this is part of a process to properly profile traders, as agreed upon by both NAFDAC and the market leadership. He confirmed that traders must visit the NAFDAC office to resolve any issues before they can reopen their shops.

Regarding the allegation that NAFDAC demanded N2 million for the reopening of shops, Chukwuleta denied this claim. He explained that any fines imposed by NAFDAC were based on specific infractions, such as the sale of unregistered or counterfeit products, and that these fines were in line with existing regulations. He also noted that similar enforcement exercises had been conducted in other cities such as Lagos and Aba, where traders had complied without issue.

Chukwuleta further reassured the public, particularly the residents of Onitsha, to disregard the protest and continue their lawful activities. He also commended Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Moji Adeyeye, for their roles in addressing the matter in a constructive manner.

Meanwhile, NAFDAC’s Zonal Director for the South-East, Martins Iluyomade, dismissed the allegations made by the protesters. He reiterated that the enforcement exercise, which took place between February 10 and March 5, 2025, was carried out in compliance with NAFDAC regulations. He emphasized that all items removed from the market were found to be unapproved by NAFDAC and affirmed the agency’s commitment to eliminating counterfeit drugs from the market.