Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has called on the Federal Government to implement stricter border controls to stem the influx of counterfeit drugs into Nigeria. He emphasized the urgent need for tighter regulation of the supply chain to prevent harmful pharmaceuticals from infiltrating local markets.
His appeal follows recent alarming discoveries in Onitsha’s markets, particularly at the Ọgbọ Ogwụ market, where authorities uncovered large quantities of falsified and banned drugs. While local regulatory efforts continue, Soludo stressed that the problem must be tackled at its root—at the country’s entry points where these dangerous products are smuggled in.
In a statement on X.com on Sunday, Soludo disclosed that his remarks followed an inspection of the Ọgbọ Ogwụ market and the adjacent Plumbing Materials Market, which was recently shut down by regulatory agencies.
“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 periodically visit to enforce standards and check the sale of fake, counterfeit, and controlled drugs,” he wrote.
He clarified that his visit was interventionist, seeking to understand why other markets near the drug hub had been closed.
“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 added.
Soludo revealed that several shops had been found storing cartons of counterfeit drugs, many of which had been banned both locally and globally. He questioned how such prohibited drugs, allegedly produced in India, continued to bypass security measures at Nigeria’s seaports and airports before reaching local markets.
“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,” he stated.
The governor urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts in cracking down on the supply chain of fake pharmaceuticals, asserting that while regulatory actions within the country are crucial, the most effective solution lies in securing the entry points.
To alleviate the impact on legitimate businesses, Soludo directed that the review of the affected markets be expedited to allow traders in the Plumbing Materials Market to resume operations within 10 days.
Additionally, he highlighted the construction of a coordinated wholesale drug centre in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area, which will serve as a standardized replacement for the chaotic Ọgbọ Ogwụ market.
“This is our contribution to ending the current chaotic market environment where fake and counterfeit drugs thrive. Onitsha remains the largest trading hub in Africa. We will further expand this status to a more befitting height,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, reports show that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) recently seized 10 trucks loaded with fake, expired, and falsified drugs during an enforcement operation at the Ọgbọ Ogwụ Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, reinforcing concerns over the scale of the problem.
