Tag: Gov. Charlse Chukwuma Soludo

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), a human rights organization, has raised alarm over the economic and public health crises resulting from the continued closure of the Onitsha Drug Market by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

In a strongly worded letter addressed to the Minister of Health, the Director-General of NAFDAC, and Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, Intersociety described the 90-day market closure as punitive and harmful, particularly to traders and the general public who rely on the market for access to essential medicines.

Chairman of Intersociety, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, condemned NAFDAC’s recent actions in the market, describing them as “harsh, extortionist, and lacking transparency.” He said the agency has imposed unjust levies on traders, including a ₦700,000 “Poor Storage Fee” per shop, ₦200,000 per packing store, and ₦200,000 penalty per unregistered imported drug brand.

“These fees are not only arbitrary but also designed to exploit traders who are already grappling with tough economic realities,” Umeagbalasi stated. “We demand an immediate reversal of all these conditions and a full refund to traders who have already been coerced into making payments.”

Intersociety also revealed that investigations carried out by its field team on April 30, 2025, showed that the bank account traders were instructed to pay into is not a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account, as claimed by NAFDAC, but a corporate account belonging to the agency. The group is now calling for full disclosure of the funds collected and their use.

Furthermore, Intersociety is demanding the immediate reopening of the Onitsha Drug Market and a thorough investigation into NAFDAC’s operations in the region. The organization has also called for the removal and investigation of Dr. Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s Director in the South East, along with all officials involved in the enforcement operation.

In a related development, the group condemned the killing of a female teacher, Mrs. Chioma Okeke, by operatives of the Anambra State-owned security outfit, Agunechemba.

“Mrs. Okeke, a Chemistry teacher and mother of four, was shot dead on April 15, 2025, at Ibeto Junction, Nnewi, by an operative identified as Chinedu. We demand that the officer be brought to justice and that the state government speaks out forcefully against this extrajudicial killing,” Umeagbalasi stated.

Intersociety is urging Governor Soludo to take immediate action to address both the closure of the drug market and rising concerns over the conduct of state security operatives. According to the group, these issues are eroding public trust and exacerbating economic hardship in the state

xThe Organized Health Sector Unions in Anambra has appealed to Gov. Charles Soludo to pay health workers their 100 per cent Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) to avert fresh industrial action in the state.

Mr Charles Nwoye, the spokesperson for the group and Chairman of the Nigerian Union Of Allied Health Professionals in Anambra, made the appeal to the governor while addressing journalists in Nnewi on Thursday.

He stressed that the Federal Government had in 2010 approved CONHESS for health workers, and reviewed it in 2023.

Nwoye disclosed that the health workers in Anambra had not enjoyed the salary structure to the fullest since 2010 when it was put in place.

According to him, only the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for the Medical and Dental practitioners that was implemented and theirs was left behind.

“Even in recent times, they enjoyed the full 100 per cent of their CONMESS and our own is left at 50 per cent.

“Through agitation our union engaged in two years ago, the Teaching Hospital was able to draw our members up to 90 per cent implementation of that CONHESS.

“At present, since last year, we have been writing the present administration of our able working governor, Soludo, who has demonstrated his concern for the people of Anambra and his commitment to the development of the state.

“This was in line with his campaign promises to make Anambra the Dubai of Africa, we believe that Anambra will not completely become the Dubai of Africa without the health sector also being fully carried along”, he said.

Nwoye expressed the health workers appreciation to the union members whose activities had led to Anambra health sector being adjudged among the best in the country.

He revealed that that it was as a result of productivity of the health workers that gave credence to satisfaction of government policies in the health sector.

Nwoye argued that if government had all its wonderful and beautiful policies, there would not be any positive result if the workers were not result-oriented.