Traders at the Ogbo-Ogwu Bridgehead Drug Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, staged a protest on Tuesday over the continued closure of their shops by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Operating under the banner of the Concerned and Genuine Members of Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market, the traders expressed frustration over the severe financial hardships caused by the market’s closure. Over 2,000 protesters, carrying placards with various messages, marched from Oshogbo Park to the River Niger Bridge and back to Uga Junction. They alleged that the closure had resulted in the deaths of at least five traders, while several others had been hospitalized due to depression and hunger.

The traders also accused NAFDAC of demanding a payment of N2 million per trader as a prerequisite for reopening the market.

Traders Demand Immediate Market Reopening

Addressing journalists, the National Convener and Secretary of the Concerned Genuine Members of Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market, Ifeanyi Chinedu, refuted NAFDAC’s claims that the shops had been reopened. He urged the Federal Government to intervene and investigate allegations surrounding the seizure of drugs, stating that NAFDAC officials had unlawfully raided their stores in their absence and confiscated over 60 trailer loads of registered pharmaceutical products.

Chinedu outlined the traders’ grievances, declaring:

• NAFDAC officials invaded shops without prior notification and seized legally registered goods valued at billions of naira.
• Confiscated drugs included products from multinational pharmaceutical firms in the USA, Germany, Turkey, and Pakistan, all of which meet international standards.
• The claim that all seized drugs were counterfeit is false and aimed at discrediting the market’s legitimate traders.
• The Federal Government should establish an independent panel to verify the legitimacy of the seized goods and investigate NAFDAC’s actions.
• The assertion that traders were present during the raids is misleading; the searches and confiscations were conducted in their absence, violating legal protocols.

Traders Reject Alleged N2 Million Fine

The traders also passed a vote of no confidence in the market’s caretaker committee chairman and his executive, demanding their immediate resignation. They further rejected NAFDAC’s alleged imposition of a N2 million fine per shop, dismissing it as unjust.

“NAFDAC’s demand for N2 million from each shop owner as a condition for reopening is outrageous. We strongly oppose this unlawful fine and call on the Federal Minister of Health, the National Security Adviser, and the National Assembly to intervene,” Chinedu stated.

He reiterated the traders’ call for an immediate and unconditional reopening of the market, emphasizing that many traders were facing severe financial distress.

“We urge the government to prosecute those found guilty of selling counterfeit drugs while ensuring that innocent traders are not unfairly punished. We remain law-abiding citizens, committed to supporting the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the Anambra State government under Governor Chukwuma Soludo.”

NAFDAC Denies Allegations

In response, NAFDAC’s South-East Zonal Director, Martins Iluyomade, dismissed the traders’ allegations, asserting that the agency’s enforcement operation, conducted from February 10 to March 5, 2025, adhered to legal guidelines.

Iluyomade maintained that all confiscated products lacked NAFDAC approval and emphasized the agency’s commitment to eliminating counterfeit drugs from Nigerian markets.

“These accusations are baseless. Our enforcement exercise was carried out in strict compliance with the law. We seized large quantities of unapproved narcotics and pharmaceuticals due to their potential threats to public health and national security. The volume of illicit drugs uncovered during our operation was significant enough to destabilize a nation,” he stated.

The dispute between the traders and NAFDAC remains unresolved, as the traders continue to demand a review of the agency’s actions and the reopening of the market.