•Plan world class drugs distribution centre
Lagos State Medicine Dealers Association (LSMDA), Lagos Island branch, says it has got rid from its ranks of fake drug barons who purvey contaminated substances, create health risks for consumers and give genuine dealers a bad name.
Ugbojiaku (right), Ezeannaya (second right), Okeke (third right), Mbaegbunam (fourth right), Adeosun (fifth right) and other members of the executive being sworn in after their election.
The news emerged during the election of new LSMDA executives, an event that was also used for stock taking.
LSMDA Chairman, Felix Ugbojiaku, who was unanimously returned for another tenure of four years, said 95 per cent of fake drugs has been eradicated from the Idumota area of Lagos Island, and pledged to crush what remains of fake drug dealers.
Despite the genuine business of the majority of dealers who offer employment to hundreds of youths, the Idumota medicine market was notorious for being a haven for fake drugs.
The story changed when National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Director General, Paul Orhii, gave the zone a clean bill of health after paying unscheduled visits, according to Ugbojiaku.
Since then, the dealers have been plying their genuine businesses without the daily harassment witnessed in the past.
Said Ugbojiaku: “This [LSMDA] administration has crushed the fake drug barons and the trophy was presented when [Orhii] visited Idumota unannounced and declared Idumota a safe place for drugs distribution.
“He made this announcement on NTA live programme, ‘Weekend File.’
“The sanitisation effort of the association during this administration has resonated in several quarters in Lagos State, even to the Presidency. Without exaggeration our members can stand anywhere and proudly say we are Idumota medicine dealers.”
The election was held at the Railway Institute, Ebute-Meta, Lagos.
In recognition of the sanitising effort of the LSMDA executive in the past four years, over 200 accredited members of the LSMDA unanimously returned unopposed Ugbojiaku (Chairman), Innocent Ezeannaya (First Vice Chairman and Innocent Okeke (Second Vice Chairman).
Others returned unopposed were Boniface Mbaegbu (Secretary) and Adeoye Adeosun (Treasurer).
The Federal Ministry of Health plans to build mega drug distribution centres (MDDCs) in conjunction with state governments.
Ugbojiaku said the MDDC planned for Lagos will be jointly built with pharmaceutical companies and the state government.