The Abia State Government says it will collaborate with the officers of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to end the era of fake products and re-dating of expired products in Eziukwu Road International Market Aba.
The state Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Mr Kingsley Nwokocha who disclosed this while speaking with Leaders and Traders of Eziukwu Road Market, Aba when he visited the Market, advised merchants engaging in fake products and re-dating of expired products to desist from the illicit businesses or face the wrath of the law.
The Commissioner for Trade and Commerce said that the present administration of Governor Alex Otti is fully prepared in restoring the lost glory of Aba, adding that Government will deal decisively with any person or group of persons portraying the State in bad light.
Mr Nwokocha thanked the Executive and Leaders of Eziukwu Road International Market, Aba for coming out to condemn such devilish acts going on in the Market and urged them to always speak with one voice in fighting the menace, adding that the adverse effects of fake products in the lives of the consumers are enormous.
Also, the Mayor, Aba South Local Government Area, Mr Obialor Anyanwu represented by the Secretary to the Local Government, Mr Gideon Adikwu appreciated the Commissioner and the South East Director of NAFDAC for their timely intervention in making sure that the trend of fake products and redating of expired products in Eziukwu Road International Market, Aba become a story of the past.
He assured of the readiness of the Council to support the State Government and NAFDAC in making bye laws aimed at tackling the production of fake products and re-dating of expired products in the Market.
In his address, the Interim Committee Chairman, Eziukwu Road Market, Aba Chief Alphonsus Udeigbo thanked the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Mr Kingsley Nwokocha and his entourage for their visit as well as the Mayor of Aba South Local Government, Mr. Obialor Anyanwu and the South East Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Illiyomade Martins for coming to the rescue of the people of Eziukwu Road Market, Aba.
He stated that the Executive and some traders took it upon themselves to constitute a 5 man Committee headed by the Chief Security Officer of the Market to ensure that perpetrators of these unwholesome acts are brought to book.
In his response, the South East Zonal Director, NAFDAC, Mr. ILLIYOMADE MARTINS thanked the leadership of Eziukwu Road market Aba for their relentless effort in ensuring that production of fake products in Eziukwu market and Aba in general come to an end.
He disclosed that statistics have shown that people from the South East region of Nigeria are mostly the ones going outside the country for treatment as a result of terminal sicknesses and diseases mostly caused by what they consume on daily basis.
Highlight of the visit was the official sealing of Zones 9,13 and 15 of the Market where the production of the fake products and redating of expired products were alleged to have taken place in Eziukwu road International Market by NAFDAC Officials.
