Business
WOMEN Arise For Change Initiative has appeal to National Agency For Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to out of patriotism, socioeconomic justice and love for humanity to reopen shutdown Onitsha Drugs Market and other affected markets over allegedly discovery of fake, unwholesome, substandard ,adulterated and expired drugs.
“We commends relentless efforts of NAFDAC in ridding the country of fake, substandard and adulterated drugs that has precipitated a lot of untimely death and health hazards to citizens.
“The worst injustice is for the just to suffer for the crimes and impunity of the unjust”.
We advice those dealing with such illicits drugs to repent and voluntarily surrender the drugs to NAFDAC for destructions,” the group said in a release made available to Realnews on Wednesday, February 19.
Part of the release reads: “NAFDAC should also ensure that only shops or business premises of those selling substandard drugs are searched and punished because the worst and most pathetic injustice is for the just to suffer for the impunity and crimes of the unjust.
“It is pertinent to note that outright closure of the markets affects adversely those doing legitimate businesses, their customers, families and dependents.
“It will be a step in the right direction for NAFDAC to do the needful and reopen the markets and commence discreet and indepth investigation of those selling substandard drugs in the markets and that only those found wanting will be made to face the full wrath of law.”
The statement issued to newsmen endorsed by Vincent Ezekwueme and Pastor Chinyere Amah, chairman and secretary of the group, respectfully tagged “whatever that affects one directly affects all indirectly” condemned with “great disdain uncouncionable, despicable and inhuman buying and selling of fake and adulterated drugs and support efforts towards it’s eradication in accordance with the law.
“We equally appeal to NAFDAC to think about plights, predicaments and sufferings of affected traders and their dependents as most of them are breadwinners and their children are now out of school due to inability of their parents to pay school fees as a result of closure of the markets.
“It is correct to state that feeding becomes difficult task for most of the affected families as a result of paucity of funds following closure of their only source of livelihood.
We passionately appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as father of the nation and democrat to show empathy for plights, predicaments and sufferings of affected traders by ordering for immediate reopening of closed markets and adequate compensation to innocent traders affected by the closure as well drugs approved by NAFDAC that were confiscated.
“It is of prime importance to note that reoponing of the markets will saves many lives as prizes of drugs has skyrocketed and many drugs are now very scarce due to drugs market closure.
“It is very unfortunate that the closure was extended to other Markets unconnected with selling of drugs,like Plumbing Material Market, Ogbo Rod Market, Provision Market Front Line,Tools and Allied Market,Dolmer Market,Part of Timber Market etc their reopening will certainly bring succour and relief to the affected traders and their families because justice could only be served when only the culprits suffer and innocent ones goes scout free.”
A.I
Feb. 19, 2025
Tags: NAFDAC
