Curbing menace of drug hawkers in C'River
Across Cross River, a silent but dangerous public health crisis is spreading rapidly. From the busy streets of Calabar to remote rural communities, unregulated drug hawkers have turned public spaces into informal pharmacies, openly selling medicines without approval, prescription or professional supervision.
What once appeared to be a minor street trade has grown into a dangerous parallel drug market operating in motor parks, markets and residential areas. These hawkers sell tablets, syrups, capsules and herbal mixtures, many of which are counterfeit, expired, poorly stored or of unknown origin. In several cases, unsuspecting residents have suffered severe health complications and even death after consuming such substances.
Driven by poverty, convenience and inadequate access to healthcare, many citizens patronise these vendors without understanding the risks involved. Medical experts have consistently warned that the indiscriminate sale of drugs by untrained persons poses a serious threat to public health. Without proper knowledge of dosage, side effects or drug interactions, drug hawkers expose people to poisoning, organ damage, treatment failure and dangerous complications.
The persistence of this menace reflects deeper systemic problems. In many communities, healthcare services remain either inaccessible or too expensive for ordinary residents. Drug hawkers exploit this gap by presenting themselves as quick and affordable alternatives. Yet medicine is not an ordinary commodity. It requires strict regulation, professional handling and proper distribution channels to ensure public safety.
Unfortunately, regulatory enforcement has remained weak and inconsistent. Despite awareness of the growing problem, illegal drug vendors continue to operate openly across the state with little resistance. The consequences extend beyond individual victims. The circulation of unregulated medicines contributes to antibiotic resistance, misdiagnosis of illnesses and increased pressure on already overstretched healthcare facilities.
To address this growing threat, urgent and coordinated action is necessary. Relevant agencies must intensify surveillance, shut down illegal drug outlets and ensure strict prosecution of offenders. Security agencies should also help dismantle the networks sustaining the illicit trade.
Equally important is sustained public enlightenment. Citizens must be educated on the dangers of purchasing medicines from unauthorised sources, while government must improve access to affordable and reliable healthcare services.
The forthcoming Business Summit of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria in Calabar should provide an opportunity for critical stakeholders to strengthen collaboration against drug hawking.
Cross River cannot afford complacency. The unchecked sale of unregulated drugs is not merely a legal violation. It is a direct assault on public health and a growing threat to human life.
Culled from Nigerian Chronicle of April 29,2026
