THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has condemned a viral social media video by an unnamed influencer, ostensibly Martin Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), allegedly inciting traders at the Onitsha Bridge Head Drug Market, saying the matter was being reviewed by law enforcement agents for possible breach of the Cybercrime Act.
VDM, though unnamed in the statement, had accused NAFDAC of shutting down the entire market over the involvement of just some shops in the sale of fake drugs.
According to the influencer: “Rather than identifying and prosecuting the specific individuals responsible, the agency chose to close all over 5,000 shops operating in the market.
“After three months of closure, NAFDAC returned with a directive that each shop must pay N500,000 before being allowed to reopen. This fee was later increased to N700,000 per shop.
“So far, over 1,000 shop owners have reportedly paid the required amount to regain access to their shops, while many others are unable to afford the payment.”
The video described the closure as not only unjust, but also amounting to extortion and a blatant abuse of power, adding: “If fake drugs were indeed discovered, then those directly involved should be arrested and prosecuted according to the law.
“It is unfair and unacceptable to punish the entire market community for the actions of a few. This is not the Nigeria we aspire to.
“I am calling on the Federal Government and the Anambra State Government to intervene and put an end to this injustice and financial exploitation.”
In its reaction to this, NAFDAC, in a strongly worded rejoinder on Monday, May 26, said the trending video contained misleading and inflammatory remarks aimed at discrediting the agency’s enforcement operation in open drug markets across the country.
According to the statement signed by its Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC said: “The agency wishes to alert the public and security agencies on the incitement, which may constitute a breach of the Cybercrime Act.”
Justifying the closure of the shops, the agency boss said none of the raided shops met the minimum standards for good storage and distribution practices and were not duly registered by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), which was in clear violation of existing pharmaceutical laws.
“The influencer in question has openly encouraged traders to defy the regulatory actions taken in conjunction with the Office of the National Security Adviser,” an action it said could amount to incitement and obstruction of justice.
According to NAFDAC boss, the affected traders were granted a moratorium to relocate to a Coordinated Wholesale Centre, where their activities could be monitored under strict regulatory oversigh.
She dsiclosed that since the reopening of the Ogbogwu Market in Onitsha on March 9, over 2,500 traders with 3,500 shops have resumed operations after complying with necessary registration and safety checks.
She, however, accused a small group of defiant traders, whose shops reportedly contained outrightly banned substances, as being responsible for the backlash and alleged incitement campaign, in a bid to divert attention from their criminal activities and escape the consequences of endangering public health.
The NAFDAC boss urged Nigerians to disregard the video and continue to support its mission to rid the country of dangerous medical products, adding: “Law-abiding citizens should go about their legitimate business while we fish out the merchants of death, those peddling fake medicines that fuel insecurity and health crises across the country.”
She reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health by ensuring that all regulated medical products, including medicines, vaccines and medical devices, meet approved safety and efficacy standards.
Adeyeye noted: “NAFDAC will continue to provide assurances that these commodities are monitored to avoid the untimely deaths of pregnant women, children, and people with chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.”
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