Obi Slams Imposition Of Levy On Onitsha Head Bridge Market Traders By NAFDAC

By Ayodele Oni

The Labour Party’s 2023 Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, has described as punitive, the decision by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to demand  ₦700,000 from each shop owner as a prerequisite for reopening the Onitsha Head Bridge Market in Anambra State

NAFDAC had earlier shut down the market due to the sale of counterfeit and substandard pharmaceutical products.

However, traders claim the Agency is now asking for the  sum as a condition to regain access to their shops, a decision which was condemned by Oni.

Reacting in a post via X on Tuesday, Obi described the demand as “disturbing and heartless,” especially in the face of Nigeria’s current economic realities.

He lamented that more than seven million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have shut down in the last two years, stressing that the institutions meant to support struggling businesses are instead stifling them.

“I visited the Head Bridge Market during its initial closure to show solidarity with authorities working to rid our markets of fake and harmful products.

“My expectation was that thorough investigations would be conducted swiftly, and the market reopened to alleviate the suffering of hardworking traders already overwhelmed by the country’s economic hardships.

“It’s disheartening to learn that shop owners are being asked to pay ₦700,000 just to reopen. At a time when MSMEs are gasping for survival, the same system that should be offering relief is applying pressure on their necks.”

He reaffirmed his support for efforts to eliminate counterfeit goods, but urged the authorities to act with empathy, investigate the allegations urgently, and reopen the market to safeguard the livelihoods of thousands of small-scale traders.

“This level of insensitivity is unacceptable. We must place compassion and economic recovery above punitive measures if we hope to move forward as a nation.”