Senator Tony Nwoye, representing Anambra North Senatorial District, has strongly criticized the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over the prolonged closure of Ogbo Ogwu Market, Onitsha, and the reported extortion of traders.
In a statement released over the weekend, Nwoye described the situation as a “clear case of regulatory overreach” and called on both the Federal Government and Anambra State Government to urgently intervene and end what he termed a “gross injustice.”
NAFDAC had raided the popular market in February 2025, sealing over 5,000 shops over alleged sales of counterfeit medicines. However, Senator Nwoye pointed out that the closure has unfairly affected thousands of traders across various sectors—not just those selling pharmaceutical products.
He stated, “Entire sections of the market, including traders dealing in non-pharmaceutical items such as paints, plumbing materials, and accessories, were unjustly shut down. While traders found guilty of dealing in fake and contraband drugs should be punished, it is wrong to penalize innocent business owners.”
Nwoye recalled his visit to the market shortly after the raid, alongside former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, as well as other federal and state lawmakers. The delegation met with affected traders and witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of the closure on the local economy.
The Senator also condemned NAFDAC’s imposition of a blanket penalty of ₦500,000 per shop—later increased to ₦700,000—as a condition for reopening the market. He described the fee as “exploitative, unjustified, and lacking any legal backing.”
“To punish over 5,000 traders indiscriminately without due process is a violation of the law and a blatant act of economic persecution,” Nwoye said.
Reports indicate that over 1,000 traders have paid the imposed fee, while thousands of others remain unable to comply due to financial constraints. Senator Nwoye questioned why no other market in Nigeria has been subjected to such sweeping penalties and called for the immediate refund of all monies already collected from innocent traders.
He also urged Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to take further action to resolve the matter.
“Ogbo Ogwu Market must be reopened without further delay,” Nwoye declared. “I stand in solidarity with the traders and will continue to use all legislative and legal means to press for justice.”
The Senator concluded by urging all regulatory bodies to ensure that enforcement actions in Nigeria are fair, transparent, and legally sound, without compromising the livelihoods and economic stability of law-abiding citizens.