A major storm is gathering around the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) following damning allegations of extortion from both federal lawmaker Hon. Afam Ogene and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over the ongoing closure of the Onitsha drug market.
At the centre of the controversy is the ₦700,000 levy reportedly imposed on each shop owner at the Bridge Head Market in Onitsha as a condition for reopening their shops. Ogene and Obi have decried the development as punitive, unjust, and detrimental to struggling Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Ogene: ‘Scandalous, outrageous, and reprehensible’
Hon. Afam Ogene, who represents Ogbaru Federal Constituency in Anambra State, issued a scathing statement on Tuesday, accusing NAFDAC of exploiting traders under the guise of regulatory enforcement.
“Documented evidence” shows that more than 1,000 shop owners have been forced to pay the sum, Ogene alleged.
“What exactly is this money for?” Ogene queried. “If it is meant as a fee to access shops, does it then mean that those guilty of drug counterfeiting are exonerated by simply paying this amount?”
He warned that the agency’s actions risk derailing the nation’s battle against fake drugs while punishing innocent traders through blanket penalties. According to him, NAFDAC has ignored the House of Representatives’ February directive to avoid collective victimisation in its operations.
“NAFDAC must halt this unethical practice immediately,” Ogene said, calling for a just and transparent process that does not alienate law-abiding businesses.
Peter Obi: ‘This is economic sabotage’
Echoing Ogene’s sentiments, Peter Obi took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the ₦700,000 charge as “insensitive” and “ill-timed,” especially given Nigeria’s ongoing economic woes.
“Our MSMEs are at a ‘we can’t breathe’ stage, and the very system that should be offering them oxygen is instead suffocating them,” Obi wrote.
He described the demand as “economic sabotage” and called on NAFDAC to “drop the charge and allow the shops to reopen immediately.”
While reiterating his support for cracking down on counterfeit drugs, Obi insisted that legitimate traders must not be made scapegoats.
“Compassion must lie at the root of government action,” he said.
NAFDAC Defends Actions, Warns of Cybercrime Breach
In response to the backlash, NAFDAC issued a statement on Tuesday signed by its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, accusing critics of attempting to incite unrest through misinformation.
READ ALSO: NAFDAC Defends Onitsha Drug Market Sanctions, Warns Against Incitement
The agency revealed that over ₦1 trillion worth of banned and counterfeit drugs had been confiscated in recent raids across major drug markets including Onitsha, Lagos, and Aba. It said the affected premises lacked registration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and violated national standards.
NAFDAC explained that originally gazetted penalties were significantly reduced after appeals. The ₦5 million investigative fine was lowered to ₦200,000, and another ₦2 million charge to ₦500,000.
“These penalties are officially gazetted charges and were applied fairly across the affected markets,” the statement read.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health and warned that social media incitement may breach the Cybercrime Act. It vowed not to be deterred by what it called attempts to derail vital regulatory reforms.
Public Outcry Mounts
Despite NAFDAC’s defense, public sympathy appears to be tilting toward the affected traders. Many argue that the imposition of such heavy fees during a period of national economic hardship is tone-deaf and could collapse small businesses.
As calls for immediate government intervention grow louder, pressure is mounting on NAFDAC to review its enforcement strategies to ensure justice, fairness, and compassion prevail.
Meanwhile, traders at the Onitsha Bridge Head market continue to count their losses, hoping for relief.