The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC has been urged to reopen the Ekumi Plaza in Ariaria International Market, Aba.
The call was made by traders who deal on hair and beauty accessories.
They lamented of hunger over the continued closure of their shops by NAFDAC.
NAFDAC had during its operation led by its zonal office earlier this month, closed many sections of the market, saying that fake, unregistered and re-dated drugs were discovered in some of the sealed shops
But the hair and beauty accessories dealers during their peaceful protest on Monday, expressed frustration over the prolonged shutdown, stating that they have been kicked out of business despite the fact that they don’t trade in drugs or other pharmaceutical products.
Chibuike Johnson Eze, Chairman of the Beauty and Hair Accessories section, said that about 1,000 shops belonging to dealers in Hair and Beauty products have remained under lock and key, making the traders to loiter hopelessly in economic hardship.
“You can see how my people are wandering up and down, no business, nothing to do.
“Since two weeks now, we have been at home doing nothing for a crime we know nothing about,” he lamented.
Eze said that those selling fake and expired drugs should be punished for their offense, not innocent traders doing genuine businesses.
The traders appealed to Governor Alex Otti to intervene by facilitate the reopening of their shops to enable them return to business, maintaining that no implicating materials like fake drugs were found in their shops when they were searched by NAFDAC.
