The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned medicine vendors operating in open drug markets nationwide to prepare for immediate relocation to the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) in their respective cities once it becomes operational.
The agency said the move became important
because the open drug market is a major source of substandard and falsified (SF) medicines in the country.
Nigeria has one Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) situated in Kano while three additional centres planned for Lagos, Aba, and Onitsha, cities with the highest density of open drug markets are yet to be established.
The warning followed the pronouncement of an Appeal Court in favour of the relocation of the open drug market in Mai Karami Plaza, Niger Street, Malam Kato and Sabon Gari areas of Kano after a protracted legal battle
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director General of NAFDAC, described the Appeal Court’s ruling as a monumental landmark, adding that it not only proves the government is on the right course but also emboldens NAFDAC in executing its mandate of safeguarding the health of Nigerians.
She emphasised that due to Nigeria’s unique circumstances, with the open drug market being exclusive to the country, NAFDAC remains committed to its duty of cleansing the pharmaceutical market to eliminate substandard and falsified medicines from circulation in Nigeria.
The Nation
