The member representing Nnewi North Constituency at the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Augustine Ike said the method and approach used by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in
the ongoing inspection and verification at the Drug, Market (Ogbogwu), Onitsha is inflicting pains on traders.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that Hon. Ike while supporting the motion
sponsored by Hon. Tony Muobike, calling on the Director General (DG) of NAFDAC Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye and the South East Zonal Director, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, to expedite action on the ongoing inspection and verification at the Drug, Market (Ogbogwu), Onitsha, stated that the agency should have gathered enough intelligence before coming to Anambra.
” Am not commending NAFDAC for locking-up the market for more than 21 days.
“If it is taking them this long to arrest those involved, it means they are doing a bad job.
” They should have done proper investigation with sufficient gathering before coming to the market strategazing.
” Those traders have families and other needs to take care of, soo, the market needs to be functional.
” This execise shouldn’t have lasted upto 72 hours. They should change their strategy next time’. The lawmaker said.
Speaking in an interview after plenary, Hon. Augustine Ike maintained that he is querying the fact that NAFDAC did not gather enough intelligence before coming to Anambra.
” They shouldn’t have lock the drug market (Ogbogwu) for more than 21 days. The details of those selling illicit drugs and address should have been gathered before now.
” Most of the illicit drugs might not be kept in the market but in warehouses somewhere.
“By locking the market, NAFDAC is keeping people hungry. They should lock the affected shops and leave the other innocent traders to do their business.
“The method is inflicting pains on ndi Anambra. Next time, if they want to carry out this type of exercise, it should be done within 72 hous (3 days)’. Hon. Ike concluded
ANN gathered that some adjoining markets locked by NAFDAC since 9th February, 2025 are; (Oduwana Street part of the Carpentry and Dolmar Tools – Power Tools and Allied Market, the Surgical line markets, the Chemical line market, the Plumbing materials markets, the Bridgehead fashion line market) by officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
