The House of Representatives has called on the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to adopt global best practices for detecting and confiscating counterfeit drugs, ensuring that innocent, legitimate traders in affected markets are not adversely impacted.
During a plenary session, the House directed its Committee on NAFDAC to investigate these concerns. The resolution was prompted by a motion titled “Need for NAFDAC to Exercise Caution Against Hurting Businesses of Innocent Traders During its Operations in Drug Markets,” raised under matters of urgent national importance by the member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency of Anambra State, Afam Ogene.
In his lead debate on the motion, Ogene voiced concerns over the blanket disruption of businesses in affected markets, noting that many operators had reported significant losses in goods and revenue due to such measures.
This call to action follows the House’s earlier directive to the federal government, urging NAFDAC, the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), and other relevant agencies to strengthen surveillance, inspection, and enforcement against counterfeit drug manufacturers and distributors nationwide. The move comes after recent discoveries and subsequent seizures of counterfeit products and medicine markets in locations such as Idumota in Lagos State, Ariaria in Aba, Abia State, and Onitsha in Anambra State.
