Anambra Govt Issues Final Warning Over Parallel Leadership at Ogbo Ogwu Market
By Ngozi Obileri
The Anambra State Government has issued a final warning to stakeholders of Ogbo Ogwu Market, Onitsha, to submit to the government recognised Caretaker Committee or risk sanctions, including possible closure of the market.
The Commissioner for Commerce, Mr. Nonso Ebeonwu, gave the warning while addressing market stakeholders at his office at the Jerome Udorji Secretariat, Awka.
Ebeonwu said the government would no longer tolerate parallel leadership in the market, accusing some stakeholders of disregarding previous directives to resolve their differences and work with the Caretaker Committee.
He described the latest meeting as the final engagement on the issue and warned those attempting to establish another leadership structure to stop forthwith.
The Commissioner directed the market leadership to work with all stakeholders and support government’s efforts to rid the market of fake and adulterated drugs as well as illicit drugs.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Pharmaceutical Matters, Pharmacist Godwin Nnadozie, and a representative of the Udogachi Security Outfit, Mr. Chike Ezenduka, urged the traders to put their house in order, stressing that the Caretaker Committee led by Mr. Chukwuleta Ndubuisi remains the only government recognised leadership.
They warned that government would not hesitate to shut the market if stakeholders continued actions capable of undermining peace and order, adding that the market’s permanent site at Oba would soon be completed.
The Head of NAFDAC in Anambra State, Mr. Louis Mmadugwachaa, expressed concern over the return of fake and adulterated drugs to the market, saying previous efforts to eliminate such products had been undermined.
He cautioned traders against allowing commercial interests to override professional regulations governing the handling and sale of medicines.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mr. Ndubuisi, said he had made efforts to bring all stakeholders together but had not received the desired cooperation. He pledged to continue addressing indiscipline, improve revenue generation and ensure proper remittance to government coffers.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Engineer Michael Obiekwe, thanked the stakeholders for attending the meeting and urged them to comply with the government’s directive in the interest of the market and its traders.
