NAFDAC Under Fire Over ₦700,000 Fine on Traders in Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba
Published on May 27, 2025
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is facing widespread criticism after imposing a ₦700,000 fine on thousands of traders across drug markets in Lagos, Onitsha, and Aba. According to the agency, the fee was actually reduced from an initial ₦7 million per shop.
NAFDAC has defended its action, stating that the fine is part of necessary regulatory reforms and insisting that it operates strictly within its legal boundaries. However, the decision has drawn backlash from notable figures including former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Obi expressed disappointment that traders were being penalized for structural issues they didn’t cause. “A just approach would distinguish between genuine offenders and compliant business owners,” Obi said. “This kind of collective punishment is not only unfair, it is economically damaging.”
He further warned that Nigeria’s small business ecosystem is already in crisis, noting that over 7 million MSMEs have collapsed in the past two years. “Instead of suffocating them further, the government should be offering support,” he added.
Senator Tony Nwoye also weighed in, calling the fines and prolonged market closures a case of regulatory overreach. He emphasized that non-pharmaceutical traders were also caught in the crossfire. “This is not regulation, it’s economic persecution,” he said, urging immediate intervention from both federal and state authorities.
Reports show that more than 5,000 shops were sealed in Onitsha’s Ogbo Ogwu Market during a February 2025 raid aimed at curbing the sale of counterfeit drugs. While some shop owners have reportedly paid the ₦700,000 fine to reopen, many others remain unable to afford the fee, leaving their businesses in limbo.
As the debate rages on, many Nigerians are calling for a more balanced and transparent approach to regulation—one that targets actual violators without crippling law-abiding small business owners.
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