Peter Obi Slams NAFDAC Over ₦700,000 Reopening Fee at Onitsha Market

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has raised strong concerns over the ₦700,000 fee reportedly being demanded from shop owners at the Onitsha Head Bridge Market to reopen their businesses, describing the move as “insensitive,” “uncaring,” and “an act of economic sabotage.”

In a statement released on Monday, Obi recalled visiting the market during the initial phase of its closure, where he stood in solidarity with the authorities’ efforts to rid the market of fake drugs and counterfeit products. While expressing his continued support for regulatory enforcement, Obi emphasized that such interventions must be executed with fairness, speed, and sensitivity to the economic realities of Nigerian citizens.

“It is, therefore, deeply unfortunate to learn that shop owners are now being asked to pay ₦700,000 to reopen their stores,” Obi said, lamenting the dire state of small businesses in Nigeria. “Already, over 7 million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have collapsed in the past two years. Our MSMEs are at a ‘we can’t breathe’ stage.”

He stressed that the government’s role should be to support rather than stifle small businesses, especially amid Nigeria’s ongoing economic crisis. “The very system that should be offering them oxygen to support their breathing is instead suffocating them,” Obi said.

Obi called on the relevant authorities to urgently review and withdraw the reopening charge, noting that the prolonged closure of shops had already inflicted severe hardship on business owners and their families. He warned that further financial impositions would only deepen the suffering and economic strain faced by struggling entrepreneurs.

“Adding further burdens to them at this time is simply unjust and an economic sabotage. Compassion must lie at the root of government action,” Obi urged.

He reaffirmed his belief in law enforcement and regulatory action to safeguard public health and economic integrity but insisted that such actions must not destroy the very livelihoods they aim to protect.

The Onitsha Head Bridge Market, a major commercial hub in southeastern Nigeria, was shut down by regulatory agencies, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), in connection with the circulation of fake pharmaceuticals. The reopening process, which was expected to be swift, has dragged on for weeks, sparking growing concern from traders and political leaders alike.