The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has officially clarified its stance on the reopening of the Onitsha Drug Market following its recent shutdown due to the proliferation of fake and substandard medicines. The market, which was closed earlier this year in a sweeping regulatory enforcement action, has now been reopened under strict compliance measures.
The agency, in a statement released on its official channels, emphasized that the closure was necessary to sanitize the drug distribution network and protect public health. Reports had surfaced in February about the alarming discovery of fake drugs being sold not only within pharmaceutical stores but even in unconventional locations such as plumbing shops. This revelation triggered immediate action from NAFDAC, leading to a temporary closure of the market.
The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has debunked several accusations by traders of the Onitsha Drug Market, Anambra State, after the raid to sanitize the market, describing it as a “smear campaign.”
The accusations included the imposition of a N2 million fine on each trader before allowing the market to reopen, among others.
Martins Iluyomade, South East zonal director of the agency, said that the market would be reopened on March 7, 2025, after a meeting between officials of the agency, officials of the Anambra State government, and leaders of market unions on March 6, 2025.
Reacting, Victoria Akudu, the agency’s South East zonal spokesperson, on Friday told BusinessDay that the market had officially been opened, but remained closed due to internal rancor.
“We have reopened the market officially, they are having internal rancor among themselves, they are sanitizing themselves. It is no more NAFDAC that is locking the shops,” she clarified.
However, the reopening of the market has not been without controversy. While NAFDAC has debunked several allegations, some concerns remain unaddressed. Critics have accused NAFDAC of failing to respond to allegations made by a shop owner, who claimed that her store was burglarized by officials of the agency during the enforcement exercise. Despite growing concerns, the regulatory body has yet to provide a formal response to these allegations, raising questions about the transparency of its operations.
In its latest statement, NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to ensuring that only registered and quality-assured pharmaceutical products are circulated within the market. The agency has put in place new stringent guidelines that traders must adhere to, in order to prevent a recurrence of the issues that led to the initial closure.
While stakeholders and market leaders have expressed relief at the reopening, they continue to urge NAFDAC to address lingering concerns and ensure fairness in its regulatory activities.
A PDF document accompanying NAFDAC’s statement provides further details on the reopening process and compliance measures. The document is attached below for reference.
