The Abia State Government has announced plans to amend laws regarding expired drugs, aiming to impose harsher penalties, including imprisonment, for those involved in the sale of fake, expired, unregistered medicines, and other dangerous products.
Governor Alex Otti made this known on Thursday during a meeting in Aba with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and representatives from the Ariaria, Eziukwu, and Tenant Road markets.
The meeting was attended by Aba South Local Government Council Chairman, Anyanwu Obialor, and the Director of the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), Abia chapter, Ngozi Nzenwata. It focused on addressing the growing problem of counterfeit and expired medicine sales. Otti, represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku, cautioned traders against being involved with those selling harmful products.
He stressed that individuals caught selling such goods would face severe penalties and urged market members to report any suspicious activities. He warned that if these illegal traders are pushed out of the main markets, they could move to the outskirts of Aba to continue their unlawful activities. He called for heightened vigilance from residents, stressing that failure to report such activities could result in serious consequences, such as the sealing of properties.
During the meeting, NAFDAC Zonal Director Martins Iluyomade announced that shops not involved in selling counterfeit or expired products would be reopened following recent crackdowns. However, he clarified that some shops would remain closed until investigations were completed. Iluyomade also expressed disappointment that traders at Eziukwu market had rejected the offer of free NAFDAC registration to help legitimize their businesses.
Ngozi Nzenwata, the Director of PCN in Abia, urged the state government to support the creation of a Medicine Mart or Wholesale Coordinating Centre to better regulate the sale of medicines in the state.
Aba South LGA Chairman Anyanwu Obialor also condemned those selling dangerous products under the guise of trade, vowing to collaborate with the Abia State Government and NAFDAC to ensure that anyone found guilty faces severe penalties.
