Senator Tony Nwoye of Anambra North has fiercely criticized the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over the extended shutdown of Ogbo Ogwu Market in Onitsha, labelling the agency’s actions a “gross injustice” and “regulatory overreach.”
The market, a commercial hub for pharmaceuticals and other goods, has remained closed since February 2025 following a sweeping NAFDAC raid aimed at curbing counterfeit drug sales.
However, in a statement issued over the weekend, Nwoye argued that the operation has unjustly punished thousands of legitimate traders dealing in non-pharmaceutical items, such as paint and plumbing materials, who were caught in the crossfire.
“To punish over 5,000 traders indiscriminately without due process is to violate both the spirit and letter of the law. This is not regulation, it is economic persecution,” Nwoye declared.
He revealed that traders are being forced to pay ₦700,000 per shop to reopen—an amount he described as “exploitative” and without legal basis. Reports suggest over 1,000 traders have already paid the fee, while thousands remain unable to comply due to financial hardship.
“No other market in Nigeria has been subjected to this level of blanket penalisation,” Nwoye noted, demanding an immediate refund for affected traders.
The senator recalled visiting the market in the aftermath of the raid alongside former Anambra Governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, where they observed the devastating impact on the local economy.
Nwoye called on both the Federal Government and Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to take immediate steps to end the closure.
“Ogbo Ogwu Market must be reopened without further delay. I stand in solidarity with the traders and will continue to use all legislative and legal means to press for justice,” he affirmed.
He concluded by urging that all regulatory actions in Nigeria adhere to principles of fairness, legality, and economic sensitivity.
