By Iyobhebhe Gift Osareme (IT Student, Ambrose Ali University)
Chairman Alhaji Musbahu Khalid has raised alarm over the plight of more than 50,000 members of the Kano patent medicine association who find themselves jobless following the government’s directive to move operations to the Kano Economic City.
Khalid voiced concerns about the affordability of shops in the new location, fearing that many store owners would struggle to meet the rent.
The recent crackdown and closure of drug stores in Kano triggered a protest led by patent medicine store owners, who marched to the Kano State Government House to express their discontent.
Arguing against the relocation, the leader of the patent medicine dealers warned of increased operational costs and subsequent hikes in essential medicine prices.
The protest sheds light on the mounting challenges confronting patent medicine store owners and their apprehensions about the repercussions of the forced move.
Amidst an already strained economic climate, the potential impact on medicine accessibility and affordability looms large.
Emphasizing the financial burden, the leader revealed that rent at the new location would soar, with each member expected to fork out no less than N2.5 million annually, resulting in significant price surges for essential medicines like paracetamol, which could skyrocket from N70 to N400 per sachet.
Furthermore, concerns abound regarding the private ownership, limited space, and insufficient capacity of the new shops at the economic city, a stark contrast to the current setup at Sabon Gari market and Mallam Kato, where over 1,000 shops are either member-owned or rented at more reasonable rates.
The association has lodged an appeal against the relocation order, urging the government to await the appeal’s outcome before enforcing eviction.
They seek a more suitable alternative provided by the government, underscoring their commitment to upholding the law and sustaining their businesses.
