By Suleiman Anyalewechi, Aba
Following the three-day raid on the Eziukwu Road (Cemetery) market to flush out suspected manufacturers of counterfeit products, a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, has been signed between the leadership of the market and the authorities of the county’s food and drug regulatory body, the National Agency For Food And Drug Administration, NAFDAC.
The MOU also sets the stage for the re-opening of the market on Friday December 15, 2023
Newscritic.com.ng reports that business activities at the market have since Monday December 11, 2023 been disrupted by the raid, with no fewer than 300 shops and business premises sealed and about 15 fake products manufacturers apprehended by NAFDAC officials.
Top on the terms of the MOU is the agreement for NAFDAC operatives to carry out similar raids in future without any prior information both to the leadership and users of the market.
The MOU also stipulates that the market leadership will take steps to identity and report to the appropriate authorities all those engaged in the production and sales of adulterated items.,
Similarly, a task force is to be established by the market leadership with the responsibility of liaising with NAFDAC for the purpose of ensuring that fake and counterfeit products are not manufactured and or sold at the market.
Furthermore, under the terms of the MOU, any products without NAFDAC registration number will not be allowed to be sold at the market.
This is even as the regulatory body NAFDAC will be visiting the market at least once every month to observe the level of compliance with the terms of MOU.
Chief Alphonsus Udeigbo, Chairman of the market, HRM S. I Ugbo traditional ruler of Eziukwu, Mazi Chukwuma Okorokwo ( vice chairman) and Sir Ogujiofor Grand patron were parts of those that signed the MOU for the market, while Martins Iluyomade Director South East signed for NAFDAC.
According to a release issued on Thursday December 14, 2023 by the spokesperson of Eziukwu Road market, Hon Chukwuma Alutu and made available to newscritic.com.ng the market leadership warned traders and other users of the market to be mindful of what they deal on as the MOU contains other strict conditions that target fake and counterfeit products manufacturers.
The leadership further noted that the MOU has empowered NAFDAC to carry out its operations at the market anytime without let and or hinderances.
The market leadership on its part has pledged its unalloyed support and cooperation to NAFDAC in its efforts to ride the county of fake and counterfeit products, adding that the leadership since its inauguration a few months ago has made no pretention of its readiness to stamp out all perceived sharp business practices within the market.