From Ifeoma Ejiofor Nnewi
Five traders are said to have died as a result of stress at the distressed Ogbogwu drug market in Onitsha, Anambra State while several others are said to be hospitalized.
The development was announced by the traders during a protest at the entrance gate of the market yesterday.
The traders linked the death of their colleagues to the just concluded National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), raid in the market
They said that the protest was also to inform President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Anambra State Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, the NAFDAC Director General(DG) Prof Moji Adeyeye, Civil Society Organisations, media and the general public that Ogbogwu drug market Onitsha is still under lock and key as against the reopening report of the enforcement agency.
They accused NAFDAC of asking them to pay two million Naira each for profiling before they would be allowed to open their shops officially, adding that the agency did not provide them a prior noticed before the enforcement exercise.
A press release signed by the National Convener/Secretary of Concerned Genuine Members of Ogbogwu Drugs Market, Mr Ifeanyi Chinedu and Mr Emmanuel Ozemena was also read during the protest.
The release read: “We the members of Ogbogwu drug market after our long awaited first general meeting on Tuesday 18th March 2025, with the caretaker committee Chairman and his executives since the inglorious invasion of the market by overzealous NAFDAC officials on February 2025, have studied the activities of the NAFDAC and caretaker executive, before during and after the invasion made the following declarations That NAFDAC invaded our various shops in our absence and carted away NAFDAC registered goods worth Billions of Naira.
“They also carted away drugs from multinational companies from USA, Germany, Turkey , Pakistan, all of international standards and impeccable qualities same drugs they use to request when they travel for medical vacations.
“That the claims by NAFDAC that all the drugs they carted away are fake and substandard are inhuman and malicious lies meant to tarnish the good image of thousands of responsible and genuine business men and women at Ogbogwu drug market.
“That we challenge the federal government to set up a high powered panel of enquiry to investigate the goods carted away in, over 60 trailer loads with the aim of ascertaining the veracity of the claims of overzealous Director General of NAFDAC and some of her corrupt officials.
“That the claims by NAFDAC officials that our various shops were being searched in our presence are another set of malicious and fabricated lies meant to carpet their heinous crime of barbaric breaking, entering , searching and loathing of someone’s shop in his absence including boutiques and wine shops in the market in this 21st century and democratic world.
“That we reject in it’s entirety the criminal fines imposed on us by NAFDAC and call on the federal minister of health and National Security Adviser, the National Assembly to come to our rescue…….”
The traders however expressed their loyalty to President Ahmed Tinubu and Gov Charles Soludo.
