By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Awkwa
DELTA: Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has directed the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, to deploy more security personnel to the closed Bridge Head Drugs Market (Ogbo Ogwu) in Onitsha. The move is aimed at supporting the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in its ongoing efforts to rid the market of counterfeit and substandard drugs.
Speaking in Onitsha over the weekend, Soludo stressed that the security deployment would help expedite NAFDAC’s enforcement activities, allowing genuine drug dealers to resume their businesses once the market is cleared.
“I fully support any action that will eliminate fake and adulterated drugs from this market because the victims are our own people, Ndi Anambra,” he said.
The market, known as a major hub for pharmaceutical sales, was recently shut down by NAFDAC due to widespread concerns over the sale of expired and counterfeit drugs. Soludo emphasized that his administration is committed to ensuring public safety and protecting residents from the dangers of fake medications.
“The purpose of medicine is to heal, not to worsen health conditions. Selling fake drugs is not just an economic crime—it is a crime against humanity,” he warned.
Soludo recalled that the market was previously shut down for four months in 2007 over similar concerns. However, he assured traders that this closure would not last as long, provided NAFDAC is allowed to carry out its duties without interference.
“The enforcement is being led by NAFDAC, and we are here to resolve the issue. The market will be reopened soon, but we must first ensure that all harmful drugs are removed,” he stated.
The governor also referenced a meeting with a leader of the plumbing market, who expressed shock at the discovery of counterfeit drugs stored in their area.
“He said he never imagined that illicit drugs were being hidden there and used as storage spaces,” Soludo revealed.
He urged traders to take responsibility by identifying and removing fake drugs from circulation, warning that the pursuit of profit should not come at the expense of human lives.
“We cannot continue harming ourselves in the name of making money. I call on all drug traders to cleanse the market of fake and substandard products,” he added.
The directive has been welcomed by stakeholders, who hope that stricter enforcement will restore credibility to the market and ensure that only genuine medicines are sold to the public.