The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reiterated its stance that traders whose shops were shut down for selling banned, counterfeit, unregistered, and harmful drugs must pay a ₦700,000 fine to reopen their stores. The agency confirmed that the enforcement is part of a broader effort to safeguard public health and rid the Nigerian drug market of substandard pharmaceuticals.
Over 3,500 Shops Reopened After Compliance in Onitsha Drug Market
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, revealed during a press briefing in Lagos that over 2,500 traders with 3,500 shops in the Ogbogwu drug market in Onitsha have resumed operations after complying with the agency’s directives and paying the required charges. These shops were previously sealed during NAFDAC’s national enforcement exercises.
Criticism from Political Figures and Lawmakers
The enforcement action and the ₦700,000 charge have faced backlash from stakeholders, including Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, and members of the Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives, who described the charges as exploitative and burdensome for traders allegedly unaware of their infractions.
Additionally, popular social media influencer VeryDarkMan (VDM) led protests in support of affected traders, accusing the agency of heavy-handedness.
NAFDAC Defends Enforcement and Fee Structure
Responding to the criticism, Prof. Adeyeye clarified that the ₦700,000 fine is an investigative charge—not a random fee. She stated that the charges were reduced from ₦5 million to ₦200,000 for selling unregistered drugs, and from ₦2 million to ₦500,000 for improper drug storage, following stakeholder consultations.
“These charges are federally gazetted fees. They are not arbitrary. Due process was followed, and we will not back down on our mandate to protect the health of Nigerians,” she emphasized.
Seizure of Over ₦1 Trillion Worth of Harmful Drugs
Adeyeye also disclosed that in recent enforcement operations across Idumota (Lagos), Aba, and Onitsha, the agency confiscated banned and substandard drugs worth over ₦1 trillion. She warned that NAFDAC would not reopen any shops that remain non-compliant with its regulations.
Public Health First: No Room for Pressure or Propaganda
The NAFDAC boss stressed that traders opposing the directive were often those dealing in banned narcotics and unwilling to follow national drug safety standards. She urged Nigerians not to politicize the enforcement, stating that NAFDAC’s primary responsibility is to safeguard public health.
“We will not fold our arms while counterfeit drugs continue to claim the lives of innocent Nigerians, especially women and children,” she said.
NAFDAC to Continue Strict Monitoring and Drug Market Reforms
Prof. Adeyeye reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working within its statutory mandate and called on traders and stakeholders to support efforts aimed at sanitizing Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector.
