ACPN Lauds Soludo’s Push For Safe Medicines, Local Drug Production

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has congratulated Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State on his inauguration for a second term, commending his administration’s decisive steps to sanitise the pharmaceutical supply chain and bolster local drug manufacturing.

The association described the initiatives as transformative for healthcare delivery and economic growth.

In a joint statement released by the National Secretary of ACPN, Omokhafe Ashore, and the Chairman of the Anambra State branch, Felix Enendu, the association commended the governor’s flagship project in Oba, part of the Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWCs) initiative, which aligns with the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG). The framework is aimed at eliminating the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines while strengthening regulatory oversight across Nigeria’s drug distribution system.

ACPN further highlighted the administration’s bold industrialisation agenda in the health sector, including the development of the 4,000-hectare Anambra Mixed‑Use Industrial City (AMIC) in Orumba and a dedicated pharmaceutical hub in Ogboji.

The association said these projects are expected to stimulate pharmaceutical manufacturing, encourage research and development, and position Anambra as a hub for drug production and healthcare innovation in West Africa.

The association also noted Governor Soludo’s longstanding advocacy for local drug manufacturing as a strategic approach to achieving national drug security and pharmaceutical self-sufficiency.

ACPN praised the governor for recognising pharmacists as a critical pillar of healthcare delivery, recalling his remarks during inauguration engagements where he described pharmacists as the “heart of the healthcare delivery system” and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining Anambra as a pharmacy-friendly environment.

The association also welcomed the governor’s policy to keep the state open for business, noting that it has already attracted interest from pharmaceutical investors planning new manufacturing facilities and distribution depots in Onitsha. Such investments, ACPN said, are expected to improve medicine availability, create employment opportunities, and further boost the state’s economic growth.

ACPN National Chairman Ambrose Ezeh reiterated the association’s readiness to collaborate with the Soludo administration in advancing healthcare reforms, strengthening pharmaceutical practice, and promoting access to safe, quality medicines.