Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has criticized the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for allegedly demanding ₦700,000 from traders to reopen their sealed shops at the Onitsha Head Bridge Market.
Obi’s comments follow a viral video shared by social media influencer, VeryDarkMan, who claimed NAFDAC is asking affected shop owners to pay the huge sum before they can resume business. These shops were reportedly shut down during recent enforcement actions by the agency.
While NAFDAC has not directly addressed the ₦700,000 fee claim, the agency stated that over 2,500 traders operating in 3,500 shops have since resumed business after meeting regulatory requirements as of March 9, 2025.
Reacting via a tweet on Tuesday, Obi described the situation as “deeply unfortunate,” stating that although he supported the initial closure of the market to remove fake drugs, he never expected such financial pressure to be placed on small business owners.
“I did so with the hope that investigations would be carried out swiftly and that the market would reopen quickly to relieve the suffering of these traders,” he said.
Obi expressed concern over the burden placed on struggling entrepreneurs, warning that such practices could further harm Nigeria’s already fragile economy. He cited a report showing that more than seven million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have collapsed in Nigeria over the past two years.
“Our small businesses are already gasping for air, and instead of providing them support, the system is choking them,” the former Anambra State governor said.
He urged the relevant authorities to drop the alleged fees, describing the charges as unjust and a form of “economic sabotage.”
“These shop owners have faced long closures, unpaid bills, and financial hardship. Asking them to pay ₦700,000 now is simply wrong,” Obi stated.
He called on the government and its agencies to show compassion and focus on reviving small businesses, which are vital to job creation and economic growth in Nigeria.
