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BY SUNNY A. DAVID
Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has commenced moves to build drug market of international standard at Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the State.
To this end, a joint government enforcement task force comprising officials from the State Ministry of Health and Physical Planning Board has visited the project site for on-the-spot assessment and evaluation.
Anambra prides as one of the four States benefitting from the project, and while that of Kano, Abia and Lagos are at different completion stages, the project was unable to take off in Anambra due to bottlenecks, which includes but not limited to encroachment by illegal developers.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, said Governor Soludo’s administration has vested interest in the project, which he described as a World Standard Market, pointing out that the visit was to ascertain if the project and its location meet international requirement.
He added that the Governor communicated his clear directives to them regarding his position on the project, revealing that the market will reduce the influx of adulterated and low-quality drugs into Anambra homes and health facilities.
The Chairman of Anambra State Physical Planning Board, Barrister Chike Maduekwe, who recalled that the project, a world class drug market, had been in the pipeline for a very long time, revealed that the project was approved by the Federal Government through the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.
Barrister Maduekwe noted that the Governor’s directive was, among other things, to issue notice to illegal occupants, which he said they have done, advising individuals who have issues to come forward and show their interest as the Governor is deeply committed to completing the project. While stating the necessity of controlling the environment where drugs are sold, Barrister Madueke disclosed that the land where the project is being built was acquired by Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, and those who acquired it are willing to go ahead with work, saying that Ndi Anambra need the market because the existence of an open drug market leads to all kinds of mess, including death as a result of fake drugs, among others.
On his part, the Managing Director of Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency, ANSIPPA, Dr. Ifedirora Amobi stressed that the investment potential of the market is enormous, saying that aside delivery of health services to the people of the State, it will also increase Anambra Internally Generated Revenue.
He stated that the present administration should have a good return on investment for every project that comes into the State, expressing optimism that on completion, the market will be more structured, organized and controlled.
Ongoing building projects at the location of the market were sealed and notice served on the developers.
