Over 10,000 traders at the Bridge-Head Drug Market, Onitsha on Wednesday took over the Onitsha-Enugu Road to protest the announced Federal Government ban on sales of drugs in open market in 2014.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had announced that from June 30, 2014, drugs would no longer be sold in the open market as part of measures to address chaotic nature of drug distribution system in the country.
The inscriptions on some of the placards carried during the protest read: ``South-East governors help us’’; ``If drug market is closed it will lead to more crime’’; ``Over 10,000 eke-out their livelihood from drug market’’; ``Action Gov. Peter Obi help us’’ and lots more.
Mr. Kenneth Nwosu, Chairman of Onitsha Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers Union (OPPMDU), said that the planned policy of the government would affect the livelihood over 10, 000 drugs traders, their families and extended family members.
Nwosu appealed to the government to look at the economic implication of the policy especially for thousands of youths who are learning the act of drug trading in Anambra and other states in the country.
``We are appealing to the South-East governors through the South-East Governors’ Forum to call on the Federal Government to rescind its decision in the interest of security and economic wellbeing of the South-east and the country.
``Moreover, we have over 5,000 shops at this Bridge-Head Drug Market and over 10,000 traders doing business here. What happens to them and their direct independents and extended family members?
``The proposed complex the government wants to use for its State and Mega Drug Distribution Centres (SMDDCs) in Onitsha only have 124 shops.
``While we all know that there is dearth of pharmacists to effectively cover these shops and administer drugs to our people,’’ he said.
Nwosu, however, said that the union would be forwarding its letter of protest through the chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum to the presidency and other relevant agencies concerned on the issue.
``Today, we have closed shop and tomorrow we are still closing our shops and all the union members WILL march to the government house, Awka to register on protest and convey our message to Governor Peter Obi,’’ he said.
Addressing the traders, Mr Ugochukwu Ezeani, Chairman, Onitsha South LGA, thanked the traders for their peaceful and matured demonstration.
``I would urge you to remain calm as our governor and other South-East governors will look into the matter and come out with a solution beneficial to all,’’ Ezeani appealed.
It would be recalled that officials of the Federal Ministry of Health explained that with the new National Drug Distribution Guidelines, drugs would no longer be sold in open market, as manufacturers and importers would channel drugs to only SMDDCs and other channels in the provisions of the guidelines.
While defaulters would face varying degrees of sanctions.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had announced that from June 30, 2014, drugs would no longer be sold in the open market as part of measures to address chaotic nature of drug distribution system in the country.
The inscriptions on some of the placards carried during the protest read: ``South-East governors help us’’; ``If drug market is closed it will lead to more crime’’; ``Over 10,000 eke-out their livelihood from drug market’’; ``Action Gov. Peter Obi help us’’ and lots more.
Mr. Kenneth Nwosu, Chairman of Onitsha Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers Union (OPPMDU), said that the planned policy of the government would affect the livelihood over 10, 000 drugs traders, their families and extended family members.
Nwosu appealed to the government to look at the economic implication of the policy especially for thousands of youths who are learning the act of drug trading in Anambra and other states in the country.
``We are appealing to the South-East governors through the South-East Governors’ Forum to call on the Federal Government to rescind its decision in the interest of security and economic wellbeing of the South-east and the country.
``Moreover, we have over 5,000 shops at this Bridge-Head Drug Market and over 10,000 traders doing business here. What happens to them and their direct independents and extended family members?
``The proposed complex the government wants to use for its State and Mega Drug Distribution Centres (SMDDCs) in Onitsha only have 124 shops.
``While we all know that there is dearth of pharmacists to effectively cover these shops and administer drugs to our people,’’ he said.
Nwosu, however, said that the union would be forwarding its letter of protest through the chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum to the presidency and other relevant agencies concerned on the issue.
``Today, we have closed shop and tomorrow we are still closing our shops and all the union members WILL march to the government house, Awka to register on protest and convey our message to Governor Peter Obi,’’ he said.
Addressing the traders, Mr Ugochukwu Ezeani, Chairman, Onitsha South LGA, thanked the traders for their peaceful and matured demonstration.
``I would urge you to remain calm as our governor and other South-East governors will look into the matter and come out with a solution beneficial to all,’’ Ezeani appealed.
It would be recalled that officials of the Federal Ministry of Health explained that with the new National Drug Distribution Guidelines, drugs would no longer be sold in open market, as manufacturers and importers would channel drugs to only SMDDCs and other channels in the provisions of the guidelines.
While defaulters would face varying degrees of sanctions.
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