Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has slammed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for imposing a N700,000 fee on shop owners at the Onitsha Head Bridge Market to reopen their businesses after a prolonged closure over counterfeit goods.
Obi, who had earlier condemned the modus of NAFDACโs crackdown on fake drugs and substandard products, expressed disappointment that traders, who were already struggling under Nigeriaโs harsh economic conditi, are now being subjected to what he described as an “insensitive and suffocating” levy.
In an statement on Tuesday, the Labour Party leader lamented that over 7 million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have collapsed in the past two years, with surviving businesses now at a “we canโt breathe” stage.
“The very system that should be offering them oxygen to support their survival is instead suffocating them,” Obi said. “This level of insensitivity is disturbing and uncaring. At a time when small businesses are struggling to stay afloat, imposing such a heavy financial burden is unjust and amounts to economic sabotage.”
The Onitsha Head Bridge Market, a major commercial hub in the Southeast, was shut down months ago as part of NAFDACโs efforts to curb counterfeit drugs and illicit goods. While Obi initially condemned the mode of operation by the agency to protect public health, he criticised the agency for the delayed investigations and exorbitant reopening fees, which he argued would further devastate traders.
“These shop owners have endured prolonged closures, unpaid bills, and economic strain,” he said. “Adding a N700,000 fee is heartless. Compassion must guide government actions, especially now.”
Obi urged NAFDAC and other authorities to review and drop the charge, warning that the policy could push more businesses into extinction.
“I stand for a society free from fake drugs, but punitive measures should not cripple legitimate businesses,” he stated. “Government agencies must balance regulation with economic recovery.”
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