- Market Closure: The Onitsha Drug Market has been shut down for two weeks following a NAFDAC raid.
- Rights Group Action: INTERSOCIETY has petitioned Governor Soludo and other officials, demanding the market’s immediate reopening.
- Economic Impact: The closure is causing financial hardship for traders and raising fears of increased crime.
- NAFDAC Concerns: The raid targeted fake, expired, and substandard drugs.
- Call for Monitoring: The petition calls for monitoring of seized products and officials’ bank accounts.
Why the Onitsha Drug Market Closure is Causing a Stir
The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (INTERSOCIETY) is not happy. They’ve filed a petition against Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Speaker Somtochukwu Udeze, among others, over the ongoing closure of the Onitsha Bridge Head Drug Market. The market has been locked up tight for two weeks after a raid by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). NAFDAC was hunting for those nasty fake, expired, and substandard drugs.
“This is Killing Our Livelihoods!” – Traders Cry Out
INTERSOCIETY isn’t mincing words. They’ve condemned the blanket closure, arguing that it’s pushing traders – including the honest ones – into poverty. Their petition, dated February 26th, was sent to a whole list of big names, including the governor, speaker, NAFDAC DG, Minister of Health, and DSS DG. They’re demanding the immediate reopening of the market.
What INTERSOCIETY Wants
The petition, titled “Campaign For Re-Opening Of Onitsha Drug Market,” makes several key demands:
- Immediate Reopening: They want urgent action to reopen the Onitsha Drug Market and surrounding areas.
- Protect Livelihoods: They stress the need to restore the livelihoods of affected traders and their families.
- Prevent Crime: They warn against policies that could lead to increased crime, like kidnapping and fraud.
- Monitor Seized Drugs: They want the seized drugs closely monitored to prevent them from being resold.
- Investigate Officials: They’re calling for the bank accounts of involved officials (and their families) to be monitored for six months.
Worries About Resale and Accountability
INTERSOCIETY is concerned that the seized drugs could end up back on the market through shady deals. They also criticized the forceful breaking of shops during the raid, which prevented traders from properly documenting their losses. Some traders even lost large sums of cash meant for payments or from POS transactions.
Beyond Drugs: Other Markets Affected
The group is urging authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and reopen not only the drug market but also any adjacent markets not involved in the sale of drugs.
The Bigger Picture: Onitsha’s Economic Hub
The Onitsha Bridge Head Market is a massive commercial center, not just for drugs but for all sorts of goods. Its closure has a ripple effect on the entire region’s economy. While cracking down on fake drugs is important, INTERSOCIETY argues that the current approach is too heavy-handed and is hurting innocent people.
What’s Next?
Will Governor Soludo and the Anambra State government heed INTERSOCIETY’s call? The coming days will be crucial for the traders of Onitsha and the surrounding communities. The pressure is on to find a solution that balances public safety with economic stability.
Fun Fact:
Did you know that the Onitsha Main Market, near the Bridge Head Market, is one of the largest markets in West Africa in terms of geographical size and volume of goods?
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