By Jude Atupulazi
The Labour Party Caucus in the House of Representatives, has expressed grave reservations over what they term disturbing reports of brazen extortion by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) officials against traders affected by the closure of the Onitsha Drugs Market, describing the action as scandalous, outrageous, and reprehensible.
Reports have it that NAFDAC is officially extorting N700, 000 from every shop owner in the Drugs Market in order to allow them access to their shops, even as it was alleged that over 1,000 shop owners had paid the contentious N700, 000 access fee.
The caucus recalled that the House of Representatives had earlier cautioned NAFDAC in a February motion against harming innocent businesses during operations at the market, and questioned the rationale behind the imposition of a N700, 000 levy on all business owners, regardless of culpability.
In a statement in Awka, the Leader of the Labour Party Caucus, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, noted that the prolonged market closure and NAFDAC’s apparent inability to identify and bring to justice those responsible for drug counterfeiting raised concerns about the agency’s operational efficiency.
‘What is this money for? If it’s for access to the shops of affected traders, does it imply that the fee absolves those guilty of drug counterfeiting? How is this fair to innocent businesses in the market? Doesn’t this contradict the principles of fairness and justice that democracy and the rule of law uphold?
‘This controversy is avoidable and detracts from the fight against fake drugs. NAFDAC’s actions are unethical, unacceptable, and reprehensible. The agency must act swiftly to address this issue which threatens its image and credibility and saves the institution from further embarrassment,’ Hon. Ogene said.
On February 19, 2025, it will be recalled, Hon. Ogene, on the floor of the House of Representatives, moved a ”Motion of Urgent National Importance”, titled: “Need for NAFDAC to Exercise Caution against Hurting Businesses of Innocent Traders during its Operations in Drug Markets”.
The motion read: “Note the ongoing efforts by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to crack down on merchants of fake and counterfeit medicines;
”Aware that NAFDAC recently sealed medicine markets in Idumota, Lagos State”, Ariaria in Aba, Abia State and Onitsha, in Anambra State;
“Also aware that the ongoing enforcement operations by NAFDAC at these drugs markets is to rid the country of counterfeit and substandard medicines;
“Concerned, however, that many people operating in the affected markets have complained about the blanket disruption of businesses, including those of innocent people, causing significant losses of goods and money;
“Worried by the reports that NAFDAC sealed the affected markets and denied the traders and their leadership entry, while it’s officials proceeded to break into shops, carting away pharmaceuticals, without owners of such shops being allowed to witness the operation and take inventory;
“Further worried that such a brazen approach and unilateral break-in and confiscation of the goods from the markets, without allowing the leadership of the markets and the owners of the goods to witness the process, would make accountability difficult and also dent the integrity of the operation;
“Disturbed by reports that some traders and Point of Sale (POS) operators were forced to leave significant amounts of cash in their shops during the sudden raid and closure of the markets over the weekend, with no clear means of recovering their funds, leading to frustrations and bewilderment;”
