The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has taken a swipe at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over claims that traders at Onitsha Head Bridge Market are being asked to pay ₦700,000 each to have their shops reopened.
Naturenex reports that NAFDAC had initially shut down the market in Anambra State for allegedly dealing in counterfeit medicines and fake products. But according to aggrieved traders, the agency has now demanded hefty sums from shop owners as a condition for reopening their stalls.
Reacting to the situation on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, via his official X account, Obi expressed outrage over the development, describing it as “disturbing and uncaring.”
In his statement, the former Anambra State governor highlighted the difficult environment faced by small and medium-sized businesses in Nigeria, noting that millions of such ventures have shut down in just two years. “Already, over 7 million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) have collapsed in the past two years in Nigeria. Our MSME’s businesses are at a ‘we can’t breathe’ stage, and the very system that should be offering them oxygen to support their breathing is instead suffocating them,” he lamented.
While reiterating his support for regulatory agencies to rid the country of counterfeit and harmful products, Obi stressed the need for authorities to handle such issues with empathy, considering the harsh economic realities many business owners currently face.
“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. It is, therefore, deeply unfortunate to learn that shop owners are now being asked to pay ₦700,000 to reopen their stores,” Obi stated.
Calling for an urgent review of the situation, he added, “This level of insensitivity is both disturbing and uncaring. Let us prioritize compassion, economic recovery, and the survival of our small businesses at this critical time in our nation.”
Obi urged the authorities to consider the plight of the affected traders, many of whom have endured weeks of market closures, growing debts, and worsening financial strain. “I want to appeal again to the relevant authorities: please review and drop this charge. Allow these businesses to reopen. 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 and an economic sabotage. Compassion must lie at the root of government action,” he declared.
