Victor EzejaFormer governor of Anambra State and Labour Party Presidential candidate in 2023, Mr Peter Obi, has condemned the imposition of charges on traders at the Onitsha Bridge Head drug market before they can reopen for business.
Obi said it is unfortunate that the authorities are applying a blanket measure to punish all traders, including the innocent ones, instead of holding those guilty accountable.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelPrime Business Africa reports that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), imposed sundry charges on traders in various open drug markets, including a controversial ₦700,000 fee as part of the penalty for selling fake and substandard medical products.
While reacting to a viral video made by a social critic, Martins Ortse, aka VeryDarkMan, who called out NAFDAC over the administrative charges, the agency defended its action.
In a statement signed by NAFADC Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency said the administrative charges were imposed on offenders as part of regulatory action, which is in line with the Federal Government regulations.
It would be recalled that the NAFDAC had, between 9 February and 27 March 2025, raided three major Open Drug Markets: Idumota in Lagos, Aba in Abia, and Onitsha in Anambra State.
READ ALSO: NAFDAC Imposes Penalty On Traders For Violations After Reopening Onitsha Drug Market
The operations led to the seizure and destruction of banned, expired, falsified, and substandard medicines and controlled substances valued at over one trillion Naira.
NAFDAC explained that its investigations revealed that “the warehouses, shops, and distribution outlets in these markets failed to meet Good Storage and Distribution Practice (GSDP) standards and were not registered with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), in clear violation of national laws.
“As part of regulatory actions, investigative charges were imposed on the offending operators as stipulated in federal government regulations. These included:
- A ₦5,000,000 investigative charge for the sale of unregistered products, which was reduced to N200,000 following appeals.
- A ₦2,000,000 investigative charge for violations of Good Storage and Distribution Practices, reduced to ₦500,000 after further appeals.
“These penalties are officially gazetted charges and were applied fairly across the affected markets,” the agency said.
NAFDAC said it remains committed to its mandate of safeguarding public health by ensuring that all medical products circulating in Nigeria are safe and of good quality.
The agency further stated that it will continue to enforce compliance with regulatory standards as a way of protecting the most vulnerable, including pregnant women, children, and individuals with chronic conditions.
Reacting, Obi, in a statement on Tuesday, recalled that he had during a visit to the Onitsha Bridge Head drug market when it was closed down, urged that discreet investigations should be carried out to fish out the offenders and promptly reopen the market to alleviate the suffering of small business owners due to current economic challenges.
“It is, therefore, deeply unfortunate to learn that shop owners are now being asked to pay ₦700,000 to reopen their stores for structural deficiencies that are not of their own making,” Obi stated.
READ ALSO: NAFDAC Reopens Onitsha Drug Market, Seizes 50 truckloads Of Illicit Drugs
The former Anambra State governor pointed out that the best way to deal with the situation would have been to identify those who violated the regulatory standards and avoid punishing innocent traders and subjecting them to a more difficult economic situation.
“In cases like this, individuals concerned should be held accountable through due process, while innocent traders should not be collectively punished. A just approach would distinguish between genuine offenders and compliant business owners, ensuring that enforcement does not become a blanket measure that inflicts undue hardship on the wider market community.”
He noted that already, over 7 million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have collapsed in the past two years in Nigeria due to harsh economic conditions and this action could further worsen the situation.
Obi advised that even if the charges are statutory, “they should be tempered with understanding,” given the current state of the economy.
According to him, “The emphasis should be on ensuring compliance with regulations while granting these business owners reasonable time to meet such requirements. Imposing measures that might cripple them further serves no one’s interest. What is needed is rigorous engagement with all stakeholders, with clear agreements being signed to ensure compliance without stifling livelihoods.”
READ ALSO: Between NAFDAC War Against Fake Drugs And Traders’ Economic Sabotage Claims
While noting that many have resorted to crime out of desperation after losing their means of sustenance, Obi said: “We cannot afford to create another set of economic victims or push more citizens toward criminality.”
While stating that shop owners have suffered severe economic strain due to prolonged market closure, the former Labour Party presidential standard bearer emphasised that to “impose additional financial burdens on them for structural issues beyond their control is not only unjust but also counterproductive.
“In an economy where millions of small businesses are collapsing, the focus should be on relief and recovery, not punishment.”
He urged the authorities “to act with compassion”, drop the charges, reopen the market, and give the traders the opportunity to rebuild their livelihoods and contribute to the nation’s economy.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
