Ukachukwu Criticizes Soludo’s ‘Unconcerned’ Response to Ogbo Ogwu Market Closure
Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate for the upcoming Anambra State election, has sharply condemned the perceived mishandling of the Ogbo Ogwu drug market closure by the administration of Governor Charles Soludo.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Media Office of Nicholas Ukachukwu, APC Anambra State on Monday and made available to journalists in Awka.
Speaking on Sunday in Onitsha after attending a Thanksgiving Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Cathedral alongside his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, and supporters, Ukachukwu expressed strong dissatisfaction with Governor Soludo’s response to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)’s shutdown of the Ogbo Ogwu market.
Ukachukwu lamented what he described as Governor Soludo’s “indifference and failure to exercise decisive leadership during a time of significant economic hardship affecting our traders and entrepreneurs.”
He further characterized the governor’s stance as “a troubling demonstration of disconnect and lack of empathy for the everyday challenges faced by Anambra’s business community.”
“Governor Soludo has once again revealed a fundamental misunderstanding of the economic heartbeat of Anambra State. His inadequate handling of the Ogbo Ogwu market closure underscores a worrying detachment from the realities confronting our people daily,” Ukachukwu stated.
The Ogbo Ogwu market, renowned as one of West Africa’s largest pharmaceutical trade centers, was sealed off by NAFDAC over alleged regulatory breaches.
While Ukachukwu acknowledged the necessity of public health and safety regulations, he emphasized that it is the government’s duty to act as a proactive mediator , providing support and crafting solutions rather than abandoning traders to uncertainty.
“Rather than engaging with NAFDAC and reassuring stakeholders, Governor Soludo has maintained a troubling silence. Our businesses are hemorrhaging losses, citizens are left stranded, and Anambra State is hemorrhaging critical revenue,” he added.
Ukachukwu pledged that, if elected, his administration would prioritize the welfare of traders, entrepreneurs, and investors alike.
“A governor should be the foremost champion of commerce within his state. Under my leadership, traders and business owners will never be left to fend for themselves. They are the driving force of Anambra’s economy, and my government will treat them as strategic partners essential to our growth and prosperity,” Ukachukwu affirmed.
He also called on NAFDAC to reopen constructive dialogue with market leaders, especially in light of recent allegations of extortion at the market, and urged the Soludo administration to take immediate, tangible steps to restore fairness, stability, and confidence in Anambra’s business environment.
