Following the intervention of Abia State Governor Alex Otti and the Mayor of Aba South LGA, Obialor Anyanwu, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday reopened shops owned by traders who were deemed innocent after the closure of markets across Aba over fake and adulterated drugs and beverages.
NAFDAC had, on December 16, 2024, sealed several markets in Aba found to be involved in the sale of unwholesome drugs and beverages, including Eziukwu Market.
Addressing the leadership of Eziukwu Market, medicine dealers in Ariaria International Market, Ekumi Plaza, and Tenant Road Medicine Dealers at the Aba South Local Government Secretariat in a roundtable meeting with Abia South LGA officials, NAFDAC’s South-East Zonal Director, Pharmacist Martins Iluyomade, said the decision came after listening to the plea of the Abia State Government to provide relief to those who were not involved in selling fake products but were victims of collateral damage.
Iluyomade warned that the reopening of the market is very selective, as only areas with no case against NAFDAC were reopened. He stated that any shop dealing in medicine in Ekumi, Ariaria, or within the zones that were shut down at Eziukwu Market on December 16, 2024, over fake products would remain sealed until certain criteria were met.
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“People in Ekumi who sell hair and beauty products, makeup items, food items, etc., will have their shops reopened, but the responsibility of securing the place is on all of us. All areas that have nothing to do with the matter will be reopened today, while the other areas must meet the necessary criteria before we consider reopening them.
“So, what we’re doing today is freeing those who had nothing to do with this crime, but those dealing in medicine will have to come forward and answer for themselves,” he said. He also warned those whose shops were reopened that NAFDAC would not tolerate further criminal silence about illicit activities around them, urging traders to “see something, say something.”
He thanked Governor Alex Otti for his special concern for the people of Abia, emphasizing that the governor’s pleas and intervention led to the decision to reopen the shops of those unfairly affected by the market closures.
In his speech, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alex Otti, Ctz Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, speaking on behalf of the state governor, said the state is working hard to strengthen its laws on such matters. He stressed that Abia cannot allow illicit activities to undermine the progress being made in the state. He urged traders to take the “see something, say something” directive seriously, extending it beyond major markets to residential areas where perpetrators might have relocated.
According to him, those involved in illicit activities must face prosecution and forfeit their properties because no responsible government would allow such criminals to escape while endangering lives. He added that the fight against fake drugs and beverages should not be left to NAFDAC alone but should be a collective battle against a few criminals determined to harm society.
“Don’t hide them. Don’t defend them. See something, say something, so that NAFDAC, the local government, and the state government can take action and bring justice to such criminals. This way, they won’t continue to punish all of us. On behalf of the Governor, I assure NAFDAC that the government will partner with you to end this menace,” Ukoha stated.
In their separate remarks, Amb. Mike Okoro, Pioneer Chairman of Eziukwu Market; Oba Ibe, the new Chairman of Eziukwu Road Market; James Ekenedilichukwu, Chairman of Tenant Road Medicine Dealers; Gerrard Chikezie, representing Ariaria International Market Patent Medicine Dealers; and Sunny Nwogu, Secretary of Ekumi Plaza, all thanked Governor Otti for responding to the people’s pleas. They assured NAFDAC that the market leadership would not allow such illegal activities to continue.
They also appealed to the governor and NAFDAC for more support, acknowledging the difficulty of managing the situation in the market.
“For the past two weeks, those of us in leadership have been unable to sleep. We’re under immense pressure. We promise that, henceforth, whatever we see, we shall report if that is what it takes to rescue us,” they pledged.
Meanwhile, Aba South Chairman Anyanwu Nwobilor has urged traders to comply with all necessary laws, warning that even the local government would not spare anyone found engaging in the sale of fake and adulterated drugs and beverages. He emphasized that, regardless of sentiment, the government would not allow anyone—no matter their status—to undermine the achievements of the Abia State Government.
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