Anambra Drug Market Leaders Distance Themselves From Anti-NAFDAC Protest

The leadership of the Ogbo-Ogwu Bridgehead Drug Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, has distanced itself from the recent protest by some traders against the continued closure of their shops by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

On Tuesday, a group of aggrieved traders under the banner of Concerned and Genuine Members of Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market staged a protest, decrying the hardship and financial burdens caused by the shutdown.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the protesters marched through the market, claiming that at least five traders had died, while several others had been hospitalized due to depression and hunger resulting from the closures.

They further alleged that NAFDAC was demanding N2 million from each trader before reopening the market.

The market closure followed a one-month enforcement exercise by NAFDAC aimed at eliminating fake, counterfeit, unregistered, and banned drugs.

In response, the market leadership, led by caretaker chairman Ndubuisi Chukwuleta, addressed journalists on Thursday, stating that those who protested against NAFDAC’s actions were not genuine traders of the Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market.

Flanked by other executive members, Chukwuleta urged NAFDAC, the Federal Government, the Anambra State Government, the media, and the public to disregard the protest, emphasizing that the market leadership does not support it.

He further alleged that the protesters were being sponsored by a “faceless group” intent on frustrating the leadership’s efforts to resolve the issue.

He said, “Those people who protested against NAFDAC activities in the market are not our members, and they are not traders in the market. The leadership of Ogbo-Ogwu Bridgehead Market dissociates from the protest; we are not part of the protest. We align with NAFDAC in their efforts to sanitise the market of fake and counterfeit drugs.

“NAFDAC has announced the reopening of the market; although most of the shops are still under lock and key, this is because they are waiting for proper profiling as early as stated in an agreement between NAFDAC and the market leadership. The affected traders are expected to visit the NAFDAC office and clear themselves before getting the approval to reopen their shops.