By Suleiman Anyalewechi
No fewer than 100 shops, were on Monday, July 1 2024 ,sealed and about four persons arrested at the famous Ogbete Market Enugu by operatives of the National Agency for Food ,Drugs Administration and Control NAFDAC in connection with the production, and sale of adulterated products.
The regulatory agency which has since Friday, June 28, been executing a raid on the market, said the effort is in line with a wider operational strategy to rid the country’s markets of fake and unwholesome products.
The sealed shops were those whose owners were identified as dealing on adulterated alcoholic beverages, and other essential items.
Martin Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s Director, Southeast Zone, who led the raid on the market noted that the operation is in pursuance of the agency’s mandate to protect the health of Nigerians.
Addressing the Media after the operation on Monday, Iluyomade also insisted that the move is aimed at purging Southeast of substandard ,fake and unwholesome products.
“We stormed the popular Ogbete Main Market Enugu, since Friday, and have shut down 100 shops which have been identified as selling fake alcoholic beverages.
“Arrests were made and the suspects are currently in custody.
“These fake wine and alcoholic beverages are being sold to unsuspecting customers and the general public . But we are determined to rid the market of these unwholesome products.”
The Southeast NAFDAC Director said the arrested suspects will be charged to court after the conclusion of ongoing investigations.
But not a few observers of the NAFDAC activities in the Southeast region as it concerns the raids and arrests of suspected dealers on counterfeit items are ready to be persuaded by the promise to prosecute the apprehended Ogbete suspects .
For one, similar raids and subsequent arrests at other markets in the past particularly, in Aba ,had all ended as a mere jamborees and attempts at currying Media attention.
The arrested suspects were all released almost immediately the operations ended, with no one so far recorded as being prosecuted ,and or convicted .
Only last December, NAFDAC Southeast Zone, under the same Director had led a celebrated raid on the Eziukwu Road market Aba.
Over 200 shops were sealed and about 30 identified kingpins of productions and sales of adulterated drinks and other essential items arrested.
But curiously, within 24 hours they made a triumphant return to their shops, even more emboldened.
They have since not only returned to business as usual. but also have been threatening and harassing the leadership of the market ,which they are accusing of orchestrating the NAFDAC raid.
As part of their efforts to get the uncompromising leadership of the market out of the way, the merchants of fake products recently petitioned the Abia State Government ,alleging mismanagement of funds by the Eziukwu road Market leadership .
The Source authoritatively gathered that a panel set up by the Government to investigate the allegations visited the market last Friday to hear from the market leadership.
While on one hand battling to get rid of the Chief Aphonsus Udeigbo led market leadership for standing on their way to unfettered productions and sales of adulterated items, they have also been bragging about their alleged “unwritten pact” with the leadership of the Southeast Zone of NAFDAC.
