The chairman of Ogbo-Ogwu Market, Bridge Head, Onitsha, Anambra State, Mr Chukwuleta Ndubuisi, has said that he’s facing death threat from those in fake drug business.
Ndubuisi made this allegation on Monday while handing over fake drugs worth over ₦265 million to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Among the confiscated drugs are expired, banned and substandard products which were seized by the market leadership last year after NAFDAC raided the market.
“As federal government agency saddled with the responsibility of regulating food and drugs, NAFDAC is doing their best. But there is need for stiffer measures to address this menace.
“Those behind the fake drugs have been threatening my life and fighting my executive, all efforts to remove us so they can have their way.
“They have repeatedly gone to the media labelling us all sorts of names. But that won’t deter me from compromising my work. I can’t stop until government said my tenure is up.
“I advise fake drugs peddlers to desist and engage in genuine business. I’ve never seen anyone doing legitimate business that retrogress.
“On the contrary, it’s those into fake drugs that fizzle out easily, thereby cutting their destiny short. Crime doesn’t pay and there’s no short cut in life. If you start small, you’ll make it.
“Moreover, you might not know who will take the fake drugs you’re dealing with. It may be your relations,” the market chairman said.
He vowed that the exercise, which is periodic, would not stop until all forms of unwholesome drugs were eradicated in the market, saying, “We’re here to hand over these seized products to NAFDAC. They include unwholesome, expired, banned, fake and substandard products.
“Before you are approximately ₦265 million worth of goods. Some of the goods were seized last year while others were after NAFDAC invasion.
“We carry out this activity periodically. This is not the first time. Even before I assumed office. It started right from the time of late Dora Akunyili era.
“We can’t afford to allow people sell products that will kill our people which is in line with NAFDAC policies. We place our taskforce at strategic points to monitor counterfeit drug dealers.”
