Reps caucus tasks NAFDAC on prosecution of fake drugs merchants

The South East caucus of the House of Representatives has condemned the activities of those the caucus described as “unscrupulous persons” engaged in the production and distribution of fake medicines and drinks in the country.

The caucus, which spoke against the backdrop of the recent sealing of medicine market in Ontisha, Anambra State, by the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), commended the agency for taking steps to halt the activities of merchants of counterfeit drugs in the country.

NAFDAC recently sealed the Bridge Head Medicine Market, in Onitsha, alongside similar markets in Lagos and Abia States.

The South East lawmakers, while speaking at a press briefing, in Abuja, on Tuesday – yesterday, February25 – urged NAFDAC to immediately arrest and prosecute those responsible for the production and distribution of fake medicines across the country.

Nonetheless, the leader of the South East caucus, Igariwey Iduma Enwo, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, said the complete and indefinite sealing of the market may not be the best approach to address the issue.

This is because, according to him, when the market is completely sealed, many of the traders in the same market who are genuine business people involved in legitimate enterprises, will also be adversely affected, in fact, perhaps even more adversely affected.

Igariwey said: “Our attention has been drawn to the continued lock down of the Onitsha medicine market located at the Bridge head, in Onitsha, Anambra State.

“As a caucus, we unequivocally condemn the nefarious activities of unscrupulous traders and so-called businessmen and women, who peddle and engage in the business of production and distribution of fake, adulterated and unwholesome medications and drugs, which they pass on to the unsuspecting public.

“To say the very least, their activities not only imperil public health, but have also led directly or indirectly to loss of lives. To a lesser extent, these death merchants are also economic saboteurs since their clandestine activities are not open to government scrutiny and taxation.”

The lawmaker added: “However, while we are mindful of NAFDAC’s statutory role in curbing and stamping out of fake drugs in the country, we urge them to quickly arrest and prosecute those responsible for the production and distribution of these fake drugs.

“The wholesale and indefinite sealing of a market that caters for over ninety percent of the medication needs of the South East and South South regions, may not be the best approach, moreso when it is considered that many of the other traders in the same market are genuine business men and women.

“Therefore, to avoid a situation of visiting collective punishment on all the traders of Onitsha Bridgehead, which is currently in a state of lockdown, and considering the wider collateral effect of the lockdown on the health needs of the larger population, we urge NAFDAC to quickly resolve the situation by prosecuting the offenders, sanitizing the entire medical ecosystem, whether in Onitsha bridge head market, or in Aba, Lagos or Kano.”