NAFDAC Shutdown Sparks Protests: Traders Cry Out In Abuja

Traders Take to the Streets in Onitsha

It’s been a tense few weeks in Onitsha, Anambra State, where traders at the Ogbo-Ogwu Bridgehead Drug Market are standing up for themselves. On Tuesday, they organized a protest against the ongoing closure of their shops by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). These traders, who call themselves the Concerned and Genuine Members of Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market, say the situation has thrown their lives into chaos, causing severe financial strain and emotional distress.

According to Naija News, the protest drew over 2,000 demonstrators, who marched from Oshogbo Park to the River Niger Bridge and back to Uga Junction. Carrying placards with powerful messages, they voiced their grievances, emphasizing the toll this closure has taken on their lives. They reported that at least five traders have passed away, and many more have been hospitalized due to stress and hunger. This isn’t just about business—it’s about survival.

The $2 Million Demand: A Step Too Far?

Protesters accused NAFDAC of imposing a steep condition for reopening their shops: a payment of N2 million per trader. That’s a staggering amount for small business owners already struggling to make ends meet. During the protest, Ifeanyi Chinedu, the National Convener and Secretary of the Concerned Genuine Members of Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market, spoke to journalists, saying their shops remain locked despite NAFDAC’s claims of reopening. Chinedu urged the Federal Government to step in, calling for an investigation into the seizure of counterfeit drugs and demanding justice.

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Chinedu went on to accuse NAFDAC officials of entering their shops without permission and removing over 60 trailer loads of legitimate, registered medications. He emphasized that these drugs were sourced from reputable multinational companies based in the USA, Germany, Turkey, and Pakistan. According to Chinedu, NAFDAC's actions were not only unlawful but also damaging to the reputation of thousands of responsible and genuine traders in the market.

Traders' Demands: A Call for Accountability

Here’s what the traders want:

We, the members of the Ogbo-Ogwu drug market, after our long-awaited first general meeting with the caretaker committee chairman and his executives since the invasion of the market by NAFDAC officials, have made the following declarations:

NAFDAC invaded our shops without our presence and took away goods worth billions of Naira. These weren’t just any goods—they were properly registered medications from trusted international sources. The claims that all these drugs are fake or substandard are baseless and malicious, designed to tarnish the image of hardworking businesspeople.

We’re calling on the Federal Government to set up a high-powered panel of inquiry to investigate the goods seized in over 60 trailer loads. We want the truth to come out about NAFDAC’s actions. Furthermore, we reject the claim that the searches were conducted in our presence. This is a fabrication meant to cover up the illegal breaking, entering, and looting of our shops.

The traders also passed a vote of no confidence in the market caretaker committee chairman and his team, demanding their immediate resignation. They labeled the NAFDAC-imposed fine of ₦2 million as outrageous and unacceptable, calling on the Federal Minister of Health, the National Security Adviser, and the National Assembly to intervene.

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Reopening the Market: A Matter of Life and Death

“NAFDAC has mandated that each shop owner pays ₦2 million before reopening the market. This is absurd. We reject these criminal fines and call on the government to rescue us,” Chinedu stated. The traders demand the immediate and unconditional reopening of the market so they can assess the damage done and hold accountable those responsible for bringing in suspected counterfeit drugs.

They also stressed that more than five people have died, and several others have been hospitalized due to depression and financial hardship. “We want justice. We’re law-abiding citizens loyal to the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu and the state government led by Prof Chukwuma Soludo,” Chinedu added.

NAFDAC’s Response: Sticking to the Law

But what does NAFDAC have to say? According to The PUNCH, trader Uchechukwu Ola shared his frustration: “It’s been two months since our market was sealed. We depend on these shops for our livelihood. The claims by NAFDAC are false. The drugs they took are genuine and registered.”

Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s Zonal Director for the South-East, dismissed the allegations, stating that the enforcement exercise followed legal procedures from February 10 to March 5, 2025. Iluyomade insisted that all seized items lacked NAFDAC approval and highlighted the dangers of unapproved drugs. “The allegations are baseless. We conducted the exercise as stipulated by law. The volume of narcotics and other harmful medicines we found is enough to destabilize a country. There’s a clear link between these substances and insecurity,” he explained.

As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: both sides feel strongly about the issue. For the traders, it’s about survival and fairness. For NAFDAC, it’s about protecting public health and ensuring safety. Only time will tell how this situation unfolds, but one thing’s for sure—it’s a story that demands attention.