Extortion Disguised as Regulation: Onitsha Traders Battle NAFDAC's Market Shutdown and N700,000 Fine per Shop [VIDEO]

 

A storm of outrage is brewing in Onitsha’s famed Ogbogwu Market — the largest medication and pharmaceutical trade center in West Africa — as thousands of traders accuse the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of collective punishment, extortion, and abuse of regulatory power.

The crisis began on February 8th, 2025, when NAFDAC operatives abruptly shut down the entire Ogbogwu market, citing the sale of counterfeit drugs in some shops. Traders and stakeholders across the over 5,000 shops in the market were left stunned and stranded, many without prior notice or the opportunity to defend themselves against the blanket sanctions.

Instead of launching targeted investigations or arresting the few alleged perpetrators, NAFDAC decided to punish the whole market community, creating ripple effects that have devastated livelihoods and fueled accusations of systemic injustice. Traders describe the shutdown as arbitrary, high-handed, and economically ruinous — a decision that punished the innocent alongside the guilty.

The situation took a darker turn after NAFDAC reportedly demanded N500,000 from each shop owner as a condition to reopen their shops. As resistance grew among the market community, the figure was later increased to N700,000 — a move many see as a cash grab cloaked in regulatory authority.

“I have done nothing wrong. I don’t sell fake drugs. Why should I pay N700,000 for someone else’s crime?” asked a frustrated trader who has been unable to reopen his shop. “This is extortion, plain and simple. If NAFDAC has evidence, they should prosecute the culprits. But why punish thousands of innocent business people?”

To date, over 1,000 traders have reportedly paid the hefty sum under pressure, fearing continued losses from the prolonged shutdown. But many others remain unable to raise the money, stuck in a cycle of helplessness and despair.

Beyond the financial loss, the shutdown has deepened the psychological and emotional toll on the market community. Ogbogwu Market is not just a business hub; it’s a lifeline for thousands of families, apprentices, distributors, and transporters who depend on its ecosystem to survive. For many, this ordeal represents a betrayal of the social contract between citizens and regulatory bodies.

Legal experts and civil society organizations are now weighing in, criticizing NAFDAC’s approach as unconstitutional and economically reckless. “Punishing an entire market without due process amounts to collective punishment, which violates the fundamental principles of justice,” said a human rights lawyer based in Awka. “This is a dangerous precedent.”

Calls are growing louder for the federal government and the Anambra State government to step in, not only to resolve the current crisis but to audit the actions of NAFDAC and prevent further abuse of regulatory authority. Protest banners reading “This Is Not The Nigeria We Want” and “Stop the Extortion” have begun appearing across Onitsha, signaling the growing discontent.

Traders are also demanding transparency: How was the fine calculated? What legal framework supports the arbitrary charges? What happens to those who cannot pay? And most importantly, where is the evidence and prosecution against the alleged fake drug sellers?

For now, the Ogbogwu traders are caught in a state of limbo — unable to work, unsure of their future, and angry at a system that seems to punish the powerless while letting deeper problems go unresolved. Their message is clear: regulation should not be a tool of oppression, and justice should not carry a price tag.

As the controversy unfolds, Nigerians nationwide are watching closely, because this fight isn’t just about a market — it’s about the soul of accountability, fairness, and justice in the Nigerian system.