Mathew Amaechi
Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has launched a scathing critique against the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for imposing a ₦700,000 fee on traders to reopen shops at the Onitsha Head Bridge Market, labeling the move as “insensitive” and “economic sabotage” against Nigeria’s struggling small businesses.
The Onitsha Head Bridge Market, a major pharmaceutical hub, was shut down in February 2025 after NAFDAC identified it as a hotspot for counterfeit drugs, part of a broader crackdown on illicit drug trade across Nigeria.
While Obi initially supported the closure to eradicate fake medicines, he expressed dismay over the prolonged shutdown and the newly imposed fee, which he argued exacerbates the plight of traders already reeling from economic hardships.
In a statement released on Tuesday via X, Obi lamented, “It is deeply unfortunate that shop owners are now asked to pay ₦700,000 to reopen stores after enduring months of closures and unpaid bills. Our MSMEs are at a ‘we can’t breathe’ stage, and the system suffocates them further.”
He highlighted that over seven million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have collapsed in Nigeria since 2023, urging authorities to prioritize compassion over punitive measures.
NAFDAC’s demand for ₦700,000 per shop — reportedly increased from an initial ₦500,000 — has sparked outrage among traders and lawmakers. Senator Tony Nwoye (Anambra North) condemned the fee as “exploitative” and accused NAFDAC of “regulatory overreach,” noting that neighboring markets unrelated to drug sales were also shuttered, worsening economic strain.
The agency, however, defended its actions, citing the market’s non-compliance with Good Storage Practices and its role in distributing substandard drugs across Africa. NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Christiana Adeyeye, avoided directly addressing the fee allegations but threatened legal action against social media critic VeryDarkMan (VDM), whose viral video exposed the charges.
Obi and Senator Nwoye have jointly called for transparency in shop inspections and a review of the fee, emphasizing that small traders cannot bear such costs amid Nigeria’s economic crisis. “Compassion must lie at the root of government action,” Obi stressed, urging NAFDAC to adopt a humane approach to regulation.
Public reaction remains divided. While some social media users criticized Obi for selective advocacy, others, like Facebook commentator Kingsley Uzodimma, questioned why similar fees were not imposed in markets outside the Southeast.
As tensions escalate, stakeholders await NAFDAC’s response to growing demands for fee revocation. The controversy reveals a broader national debate: balancing public health imperatives with economic survival in a country where MSMEs contribute 50% of GDP yet face existential threats. For now, Onitsha’s traders remain in limbo, their livelihoods hanging on a resolution that reconciles regulation with empathy.
