NAFDAC: Soludo Backs Full Market Closure Amid Fake Drug Crackdown, Counters Obi

Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has countered Peter Obi’s position on the recent closure of the Head Bridge Market in Onitsha by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The market was shut down as part of NAFDAC’s crackdown on counterfeit drugs, particularly in the Ogbo Ogwu section.

During the operation, NAFDAC discovered fake drugs in multiple shops and seized 10 trucks of substandard, expired, and falsified pharmaceutical products. The closure extended beyond the drug market to include other sections such as plumbing materials, rod and allied tools, provisions, and timber markets, affecting numerous traders and businesses.

Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State and the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, criticized the broad shutdown, arguing that only the Ogbo Ogwu drug market should have been sealed. He described the measure as excessive and detrimental to millions of livelihoods. Obi urged the authorities to reconsider and immediately reopen the unaffected sections to mitigate economic hardship.

In response, Soludo defended NAFDAC’s decision, stating that regulatory authorities had valid reasons for shutting down additional sections. According to him, market leaders from the plumbing materials sector confirmed that counterfeit drugs were also discovered in their shops.

“The leadership of the plumbing materials market, which was shut down alongside the drug market, confirmed to me that the discoveries made by the regulators in some shops in the plumbing material market were both shocking and disturbing,” Soludo stated. He further revealed that cartons of banned counterfeit and controlled drugs were found within these shops, raising serious concerns about how such illicit products continue to infiltrate Nigeria’s markets despite global and local bans.

Soludo also criticized what he termed as a political narrative surrounding the incident, reaffirming the need for regulatory bodies to enforce strict compliance in drug sales. He urged the Federal Government to strengthen oversight at the supply chain level to prevent the inflow of counterfeit drugs into the country.

As the investigation continues, Soludo assured traders in the plumbing materials market that efforts were underway to expedite searches and facilitate the reopening of their businesses as soon as possible.