Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has urged the Federal Government to take immediate steps to curb the smuggling of counterfeit drugs into Nigeria.
He emphasized the need for stricter control over the nation’s supply chain to prevent harmful substances from flooding local markets.
His appeal follows a disturbing discovery at Onitsha’s Ọgbọ Ogwụ market, where regulatory agencies recently confiscated large quantities of falsified and prohibited drugs.
While local authorities continue their enforcement efforts, Soludo insists that the real solution lies at the country’s borders, where these dangerous products first enter.
In a statement posted on X on Sunday, the governor shared insights from his visit to Onitsha on Saturday, where he inspected the Ọgbọ Ogwụ market and the neighboring Plumbing Materials Market.
The latter was recently sealed off by regulators due to safety concerns.
He stated, “I visited the Ọgbọ Ogwụ and adjoining markets today in Onitsha. As the biggest open drug market in Africa, it is not surprising that federal agencies and regulatory bodies would, from time to time, visit the market to enforce standards and check the sale of fake, counterfeit, and controlled drugs.”
Strengthening Border Security to Combat Fake Drug Trade
Soludo pointed out that the sale and regulation of pharmaceuticals fall under the Federal Government’s jurisdiction, making his visit an interventionist effort.
He sought to understand the reasons behind the closure of other markets near the drug hub.
Dispelling political speculations, he cited firsthand accounts from traders at the Plumbing Materials Market, confirming that authorities uncovered deeply concerning stockpiles of counterfeit drugs in several shops.
“Away from the media sensation created by a few political actors, the leadership of the Plumbing Materials Market, which was shut down alongside the drug market, confirmed to me that the discoveries made by regulators in some shops were shocking and disturbing,” he wrote.
According to the governor, regulatory agencies found cartons of falsified medications, many of which had been banned both in Nigeria and internationally.
“How these drugs, which have been banned globally and locally, are still being manufactured in India, pass through our various ports (sea and air), and find their way to our local drug markets remains a question only the relevant authorities can answer,” Soludo remarked.
A Call for Intensified Supply Chain Enforcement
Given the gravity of the situation, the governor urged the Federal Government to tighten border controls to choke the supply of fake drugs at its source.
While acknowledging the importance of ongoing regulatory crackdowns, he emphasized that stopping these harmful products at entry points is the most effective solution.
Additionally, Soludo announced that he has instructed officials to expedite market inspections, allowing traders at the Plumbing Materials Market to resume operations within 10 days.
As part of his long-term strategy to sanitize the sector, he highlighted the ongoing construction of a wholesale drug distribution center in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area.
The facility will serve as a new, standardized location for the Ọgbọ Ogwụ drug market, aiming to eliminate the chaotic environment that has allowed counterfeit medicines to flourish.
“This is our contribution to ending the current chaotic market environment where fake and counterfeit drugs thrive,” he affirmed.
Reiterating his commitment to economic growth, Soludo assured that Onitsha, as Africa’s largest trading hub, would be elevated to even greater commercial prominence.
Meanwhile, The PUNCH reported that during a recent enforcement operation, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control intercepted 10 truckloads of fake, expired, and falsified drugs at the Ọgbọ Ogwụ Bridge Head Market in Onitsha.
