Onitsha drug market hands over #265m worth of fake drugs to NAFDAC

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

The Onitsha Drug market, (Ogbo-Ogwu), bridge head, Anambra state on Wednesday handed over fake drugs worth over N265millon to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The Chairman, Mr Chukwuleta Ndubuisi who disclosed this in a chat with newsmen listed the confiscated drugs to include unwholesome, expired, banned and substandard products.

He said some of the goods were seized last year while others were confiscated after NAFDAC’s invasion of the market.

He vowed that the periodic exercise would not stop until all forms of unwholesome drugs were flushed out from the market.

He said, “We’re here to hand over these seized products approximately N265m. This is not the first time, even before I assumed office. It started right from the time of late Dora Akunyili.

“We can’t afford to allow people sell products that will kill our people which is in line with NAFDAC policy. We place our taskforce at strategic points to monitor counterfeit drug dealers.”

Acknowledging reduction of the business in the market, Ndubuisi said majority of the seized drugs were smuggled into the market from outside.

“Those behind the fake drugs have been threatening my life and fighting my executive, all efforts to remove us so they can have their way.

“They have repeatedly gone to the media labeling us all sorts of names. But all these won’t deter me nor make me compromise my work. I can’t stop until government said my tenure is up.

“I advise them to desist and engage in genuine business. Crime doesn’t pay and there’s no short cut in life. I’ve never seen anyone doing legitimate business without progress.

“Moreover, you may no know who will consume the fake drugs you’re dealing with. It may be your relations,” he added.

Reacting, State Coordinator, NAFDAC, Louis Madubuattah, said over 400 cartons of different kinds of pharmaceutical mostly expired and unregistered products were received by the agency.

He said the products would be housed in the agency’s warehouse pending time for destruction.

The NAFDAC state coordinator said, “This is normal practices. When pharmaceutical companies have their  products expired, the law requires they hand them over to NAFDAC for destruction. 

“On our own, we’ve been sensitizing the people on the need to ensure expired products are not revalidated and pushed into the system.

“We’re glad the market leadership has mechanism to mop up unwholesome products. It’s an improvement they’re handing over these products themselves.” He noted