From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
The Nigeria Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers, (NAPPMED) Kano State, has accused the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) of extortion and illegal imposition of charges against their members.
The Chairman of the Association, Musbau Khalid disclosed this at a press conference in Kano at the weekend, lamenting that they were being charged an illegal sum of N300,000 as a condition to access their premises inside Sabon Gari market.
“The security officers have continued to deny us free access to our premises in Sabon- Gari, except for those willing to pay the sum of N300,000 being charged by NAFDAC and PCN” he held.
Khalid observed that his members numbering over 5000 traders had been subjected to untold hardship and huge financial losses following the controversial relocation order.
He added that since the order about a month ago , they had been unable to access their drugs while expressing fear that these drugs may have expired or had lost their potency.
He also accused NAFDAC and PCN of disobedience of the court order directing the military to vacate their premises, pending the hearing and determination of a fresh suit on human rights which they filed before a Federal High Court in the state
Khalid acknowledged that though a Federal High Court had earlier ordered them to relocate to the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) at Dangwaro village along Zaria Road, the judgment did not ask or empower NAFDAC and PCN to take possession of their premises and stores .
Khalid stressed that they had since appealed the said judgment of the lower court and had equally secured a fresh ruling from Justice A. M Liman who granted an ex parte asking all parties to maintain status quo, expressing surprise that these two bodies have disregarded these developments.
He appealed to the Kano State government, stakeholders and well meaning persons in the state to urgently intervene in the situation to forestall a needless breakdown of law and order in the state