The commercial city of Onitsha in Anambra State was shut down on Wednesday following a protest by drug dealers against the proposed ban on sale of drugs in the open market by the Federal Government.

Drug dealers at the Bridge-Head Drug Market, numbering over 10, 000, grounded commercial activities and vehicular movements in the ever busy Onitsha-Enugu Express Way.

The traders moved from one portion of the road to the other, chanting anti-federal government songs.

They also carried placards with inscriptions such as “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 and Action Governor Peter Obi, help us”.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Onitsha Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers Union (OPPMDU), Mr. Kenneth Nwosu, who spoke on behalf of the traders, said the planned policy of government would affect the livelihood of over 10, 000 drug traders, their families and extended family members.

He appealed to government to look at the economic implication of the policy especially for thousands of youths who were learning drug trading in Anambra and other states.

He said, “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 well-being 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 dependents 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. We all know that there is a dearth of pharmacists to effectively cover these shops and administer drugs to our people”.

wheel barrow: 1. This is a welcome development. This is where fake drugs that has been killing Nigerians come from. 10,000 drug sellers in one market!!! I'm sure 95% of them don't even have SSCE.

2. I wonder what Ibo people would be saying if this was happening in Lagos. It would have been articles, ultimatums, threats etc. All we would have been hearing is how people are envious of Ibos' success. Now that its one of them that's dealing with them they can only cry and whine.

3. Thank God I'm 1st to comment. If you're jealous, the you're on a long thing....

Orlando Owoh: She how these traders are bent on killing innocent Nigerians with their fake drugs

emmysenior: They should switch to other kinds of trade aside drugs...
The funny part is that, most of the traders are illitrates when it comes to medicine/drug issues.

I'm sure that their only concern is their pocket and not the impacts of their businesses on people.

INNO18: Some of you folks are just so naive....pls consult your lexicon for the meaning of 'illiterate' b4 u open ur bucal cavity to unleash blunder!

Abagworo: More crime in the pipeline.

ALAKE_OF_EGBA: Aside O-T-C drugs that are relatively less harmful, prescription drugs and other regulated drugs should not be sold in open markets by un-regulated and unqualified personnel. It's not done anywhere in the world.

Our penchants to reduce and see everything from some primitive and abnormal angles is killing Nigeria.

wheel barrow:

I'm sure you're one of the illiterate traders so I'll make my points very simple and clear so that your uneducated brain can comprehend..

1. I don't have a Ph.D but a B.Eng (Mech. Eng) from the great University of Benin.

2. I am gainfully employed so you and your illiterate traders can shove your blood-stained naira notes in your rear.

3. Drug business shouldn't be for every Tom, D1ck and Harry. I wonder why you are supporting your Ibo brothers who have been killing innocent Nigerians by dealing on fake and substandard drugs.

Are you guys so greedy that you do not care that your criminal activities take the lives of thousands of people??

4. Those illiterate traders can indulge in other less sensitive businesses such as;

- sales of 2nd hand clothes
- sales of chewing stick
- sales of footwear
- sales of plastic products for domestic use (buckets, plates, cups etc)
- sales of building materials (cement, paint, tiles etc)
- etc etc

5. Once more I repeat for the benefit of you and your uneducated colleagues;
Drug business isn't for Uneducated folks!!

liberty300: Who said the drugs are fake or did you just assume because its happening in the east. Patent drugs aren't fake drugs joor. After,they'll be making noise that they are educated but don't know the difference between patent and fake