NAFDAC Clears the Air: Onitsha Medicine Market Back in Action!

The Onitsha medicine market at Bridgehead is officially back in business. After a month-long shutdown for a deep clean, doors swung open again on March 7, and things look good.

I got the scoop from Dr. Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s Southeast Director, who spilled the details in an interview with NAN. So, why did the market go on a break in the first place? Simple NAFDAC needed to sanitize the system and ensure that medicine distribution was safe and up to standard. From February 10 to March 7, Ogbo Ogwu and three nearby markets took a breather for this major reset.

But hold up, it wasn’t just a “close and reopen” situation. Owners had to meet some administrative conditions before any shop could get back in action. Think of it as a safety check, ensuring everything’s in place to avoid the mess that led to the closure in the first place. It’s all about keeping things tight and right!

Here’s the juicy part: some media reports claimed the market was still shut. But Iluyomade set the record straight: Nope, not true! The market is open, but the process of documentation and shop regularization is still underway. No shop gets a free pass; every owner must go through the clearance procedures before getting their keys back. NAFDAC even set up a special desk to speed things up for smooth processing.

Shout-out to the market leadership and the Anambra state government for their teamwork! Iluyomade also made it clear that NAFDAC isn’t aware of any internal conflicts in the market.

So, to all traders and customers, business is back, and it’s safer than ever! If you’re heading to Bridgehead, rest assured that NAFDAC’s got things under control.