Peter Obi Slams NAFDAC’s ₦700,000 Fee for Onitsha Traders, Calls It Unjust.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate and former Anambra State governor, has strongly criticised the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for demanding a ₦700,000 fee from traders at Onitsha’s Head Bridge Market before they can reopen their shops. Obi described the fee as “unjust and insensitive,” especially given the difficult economic times facing small business owners in Nigeria.

The controversy began after NAFDAC raided the Onitsha Head Bridge Market in February 2025, sealing over 5,000 shops over allegations of fake and adulterated drugs being sold there. While the agency said its action was to protect public health, the closure has left thousands of traders unable to access their businesses for months, causing serious hardship for their families and the local economy.

Obi, who visited the market during its initial closure, said he supported the authorities’ efforts to remove fake drugs but expected the investigation to be quick and fair, with the market reopened soon to ease the suffering of traders.

He said;

“I recall visiting the Head Bridge Market during the initial phase of its closure, standing in support of the authorities to ensure our society is free from fake drugs and counterfeit goods. I did so with the hope that investigations would be carried out swiftly, and the market would be reopened promptly, especially to ease the suffering of small business owners already burdened by our current national economic challenges.”

Obi described it as “deeply unfortunate” to learn that traders are now being asked to pay ₦700,000 to regain access to their shops. He argued that this fee comes at a time when small businesses are already struggling to survive, with millions of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) having collapsed in the past two years.

He warned, “Over 7 million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have collapsed in the past two years in Nigeria. Our MSMEs are at a ‘we can’t breathe’ stage, and the very system that should be offering them oxygen is instead suffocating them.”

Calling the fee “economic sabotage,” Obi appealed to NAFDAC and other relevant authorities to drop the charge and allow the shops to reopen immediately. He stressed that the traders have already suffered enough, facing prolonged closures, unpaid bills, and mounting economic pressure.

“These shop owners have already endured prolonged closures, mounting unpaid bills, and economic strain. Adding further burdens to them and their families at this time is simply unjust,” Obi said. “Compassion must lie at the root of government action.”

Obi made it clear that while he supports efforts to stop the sale of counterfeit drugs, these actions should not destroy the businesses that drive Nigeria’s economy. He urged NAFDAC and the government to focus on compassion, economic recovery, and the protection of small businesses when making policies and enforcing laws.

Meanwhile, other political leaders, like Senator Tony Nwoye, have also condemned NAFDAC’s actions, calling the blanket penalty “exploitative” and demanding that any money already collected from innocent traders be refunded. Nwoye and Obi both called on Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to intervene and help resolve the crisis.

NAFDAC, for its part, maintains that its actions are based on the need to protect public health and insists that only shops involved in illegal activities are being targeted for further penalties. However, the agency’s critics argue that the mass closure and high fees are unfair to innocent traders and are damaging the local economy.

As the debate continues, many Nigerians are watching to see if NAFDAC will reconsider its decision and allow the Head Bridge Market to fully reopen, giving traders a chance to rebuild their businesses and support their families.

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