The reopening of the Onitsha Drug Market and other adjoining markets, after nearly a month of closure, follows a comprehensive operation by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) aimed at tackling the proliferation of illicit and substandard drugs. The closure was a response to the agency’s findings, which included a significant amount of fake and dangerous drugs, as well as narcotics being trafficked through the markets. NAFDAC confiscated over 50 trailers of counterfeit medications and highlighted concerns about improper storage of even legitimate drugs.
While the market’s reopening is welcome news for business owners, some 4,000 shops will remain shut until their owners clarify the presence of illicit drugs within their premises. This is part of NAFDAC’s broader effort to sanitize the market and prevent the circulation of harmful substances that could compromise public health and safety.
The agency’s actions have sparked mixed reactions, but the Zonal Director emphasized that the closure was necessary to prevent larger-scale harm. The government’s approach, backed by Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, has been to prioritize public health, regardless of the economic impact on legitimate traders in the region.
NAFDAC’s warning to market union leaders about monitoring future activity and reporting suspicious behavior underscores the agency’s commitment to enforcing regulations and ensuring the safety of the Nigerian public. How do you feel about NAFDAC’s approach, and what impact do you think this will have on the market and public health in the long term?
