From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewale, yesterday gave December 31, 2018 as deadline for relocation of Onitsha drug market to Coordinated Warehouse Centre (CWC) at Oba, near Onitsha in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Adewale, who disclosed this at the weekend when he visited the new site of the drug market at Oba to ascertain the level of preparedness for the relocation, said there would be no open drug market in the country by January 1, 2019.
He urged the leadership of the market, led by Mr. Uchenna Eze to immediately commence the construction of the new market at Oba to meet the deadline, saying no other place would be allowed for the CWC in the state.
The minister commended the state government and traditional ruler of Oba Eze Okpoko 1 for allocating the portion of the land for the new market. He noted the land was large enough to accommodate everybody in the market and promised to commission it when completed next year.
Adewale said the Federal Government, through his ministry, approved the Onitsha, Aba, Lagos and Kano for the Coordinated Warehouse Centre, to checkmate and monitor the influx of fake, counterfeit and adulterated drugs into the country. He said the centre will also help in generating revenue for the state.