Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has declared that his administration will continue from where the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) stopped in ridding Aba markets of counterfeit products.
Governor Otti made the commitment on Friday during the January edition of the Monthly Media Parley, tagged ; “Governor Otti Speaks to Abians,” held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Umuahia.
The Governor’s statement follows NAFDAC’s recent enforcement action in Aba, where it sealed the popular Cemetery Road Market, notorious for housing Nigeria’s largest counterfeit wine and beverage cartel.
The Market was shut down indefinitely after authorities raided 240 shops and confiscated fake goods worth over ₦5 billion.
Describing the production of fake goods in Abia State as an embarrassment, Governor Otti urged local manufacturers engaged in such illegal activities to desist and instead focus on building authentic brands.
“I do not have a problem with you making your own product, but I have a problem with you faking the product of somebody else and trying to pass it as the original version”, he stated.
The Governor further warned that his Government would intensify crackdowns to restore the State’s business reputation.
“We are going to come down very hard on manufacturers of fake products, because they are giving us a bad name and that is not acceptable“, Governor Otti said.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting genuine entrepreneurs who comply with regulatory standards.
The Governor urged aspiring manufacturers to obtain NAFDAC registration and follow due process, citing China and Japan as examples of nations that built global reputations by developing and marketing their own brands.
“Our people are industrious and making a lot of things in Aba, so, we encourage them to make their products and call it their names instead of faking other people’s products or we will raid and stop them in their tracks.
“I have directed my people in Government to ensure that we continue from where NAFDAC stopped”, Gov. Otti declared.
