Senator Dr Tony Nwoye representing Anambra North Senatorial District, has expressed strong condemnation of the continued closure and alleged extortion of traders at Ogbo Ogwu Market, Onitsha, following the controversial sealing of over 5,000 shops by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
In a statement issued yesterday, Senator Nwoye described the situation as a “clear case of regulatory overreach” and called for urgent intervention by both the Federal and Anambra State Governments to address what he described as “gross injustice.”
The closure of the market, which began in February 2025 after a NAFDAC raid on the popular drug market, has left thousands of shop owners unable to access their businesses. While the agency initially alleged that some traders were dealing in counterfeit medicines, Senator Nwoye noted that the punitive measures extended far beyond the pharmaceutical sector.
“Entire sections of the market, including traders dealing in non-pharmaceutical items such as paints, plumbing materials, and accessories, were unjustly shut down,” he said.
He equivocally stated “that Traders found culpable in dealing with fake and contraband drugs in the market should be punished”.
Senator Nwoye recalled visiting the market shortly after the raid, alongside former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and other Federal and State Lawmakers. During that visit, the lawmakers met with affected traders and observed the impact of the closure on the economic life of the area.
The Senator frowned and criticised NAFDAC’s imposition of a blanket penalty of ₦500,000 per shop—later raised to ₦700,000—as a condition for reopening the market, describing the demand as “exploitative” and without any moral and legal justification for the fees.
“To punish over 5,000 traders indiscriminately without due process is to violate both the spirit and letters of the law,” the Senator stated. “This is not regulation, it is economic persecution and injustice.”
According to reports, over 1,000 shop owners 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 faced such mass penalisation and demanded the immediate refund of monies already collected from innocent traders.
He also appealed to Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to intervene further on the issue.
“Ogbo Ogwu Market must be reopened without further delay,” he 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 relevant authorities to ensure that regulatory actions in Nigeria remain fair, transparent, and legally sound, without compromising the economic stability of law-abiding citizens.
