Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has announced plans to build a coordinated wholesale drug centre in Oba, Idemili South LGA, as part of efforts to standardise the drug market and eradicate fake and counterfeit drugs.
The new centre will accommodate the relocated and standardised Ogbo ogwu market, arguably Africa’s largest open drug market in Onitsha.
“As a government, we are already building a coordinated wholesale drug centre in Oba, Idemili South LGA, that will accommodate the new and standardised Ogbo ogwu market. This is our own contribution to ending the current chaotic market environment where fake and counterfeit drugs thrive.
“Onitsha remains the largest trading hub in Africa, we will further expand this status to a more befitting height,” he said.
During a visit to the Ọgbọ ogwu and adjoining market in Onitsha, Soludo learned that regulators had discovered shops selling banned drugs in the nearby plumbing materials market, leading to its shutdown.
In a statement shared on his verified X handle on Saturday evening after visiting the market for on-the-spot assessment, the governor directed an expedited search, aiming to reopen the market within 10 days.
Soludo, however, emphasised the need for the Federal Government to tighten control over the supply chain, questioning how banned drugs from India are entering the country through various ports.
Soludo said: “I visited the Ọgbọ ogwu and adjoining market today in Onitsha. As the biggest open drug market in Africa, it is not surprising that Federal Agencies and regulatory bodies would, from time to time, visit the market to enforce standards and check the sale of fake, counterfeit, and controlled drugs in the market.
“With drugs and related matters captured strictly on the exclusive list, my visit today was interventionist. First, I sought to ascertain why other markets close to the drug market in Onitsha were closed. Away from the media sensation created by a few political actors, the leadership of the Plumbing materials market, which was shut down alongside the drug market, confirmed to me that the discoveries made by the Regulators in some shops in the plumbing material market were both shocking and disturbing.
“Right inside these shops were found cartons of counterfeit and controlled drugs, many of which had been banned globally. How these drugs, which have been banned globally and locally, are still being manufactured in India, pass through our various ports (sea and air), and find their way to our local drug markets remains a question only the relevant authorities can answer.”
He added, “While we must rid our country of fake and counterfeit drugs, it is important for the Federal Government to tighten up the noose on the supply end of the value chain.
“I have directed that the search, which had commenced a few days ago, be expedited so that in less than 10 days from today, the traders at the Plumbing materials market can be allowed to reopen and commence their legitimate commercial activities.”
