Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has responded to criticisms from former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi; and other Nigerians; stating that the agency is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of citizens.
Director of NAFDAC South-East zone, Dr Martins Iluyomade, stated this while briefing Journalists shortly after the operatives of the agency uncovered two 40-foot container-trucks of fake and expired drugs stored in various shops at the popular plumbing material market; Onitsha during the weekend.
Recall that Mr Obi via his X, formerly Twitter, handle had called for the immediate reopening of some of the markets in Onitsha, the commercial city of the state, not involved in any wrongdoing.
He also noted that the shutdown of other sections of the market including Rod, Allied and Tools, Plumbing Materials, Timber, Surgical, and Provision Markets, was excessive and unjustified.
Speaking further in reply to the calls, Dr Iluyomade, said what the agency is currently doing under the leadership of its Director General, Prof Moji Adeyeye, is to better the Nigerian society.
He explained that the operatives are raiding only shops where the fake, counterfeit, unregistered and expired drugs are hiding and not the entire market as speculated on social media by some drug traffickers.
“What we are currently doing in Onitsha and in some parts of the country, is for the good of all. We urge those calling for the reopening of the market while the raiding is still ongoing to support us and not to discourage our effort.
“Today, in this plumbing material market alone, we have uncovered two trucks of fake and expired drugs stored in various shops. And from our gathering, it seems the plumbing material market is the headquarters of these illicit activities in the entire West African countries.”
Ikengaonline reports that the operation conducted in collaboration with security agencies, market leaders and other critical stakeholders is part of the Federal Government’s ongoing crackdown on the circulation of counterfeit drugs in the country, which gave the agency the full power and backing to carry out the operation.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating the distribution of substandard and faked drugs in Nigeria.
Iluyomade used the briefing to also appeal to the media to help project positively the activities of the agency before the international community.
