The caucus warned that the ongoing controversy could damage the agency’s public credibility.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Labour Party Caucus in the House of Representatives has raised alarm over what it described as the “brazen extortion” of traders at the Onitsha drug market by officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
In a statement issued in Awka, Leader of the Labour Party Caucus, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, said the caucus was “deeply disturbed” by reports that NAFDAC is demanding N700,000 from each shop owner in the market before granting access to their premises, despite a lack of clear evidence tying all traders to the circulation of counterfeit drugs.
“Documented evidence suggests that over 1,000 shop owners have already paid this scandalous N700,000 access fee. What is this money for?” Ogene queried. “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?”
Describing NAFDAC’s conduct as “unethical, unacceptable, and reprehensible,” the caucus warned that the ongoing controversy could damage the agency’s public credibility.
“This controversy is avoidable and distracts from the fight against fake drugs. NAFDAC must act swiftly to address this issue, which threatens its image and credibility, and saves the institution from further embarrassment,” Ogene added.
The caucus recalled that the House of Representatives had earlier, on February 19, 2025, cautioned NAFDAC through a motion of urgent national importance. The motion, sponsored by Hon. Ogene, was titled: “Need for NAFDAC to Exercise Caution Against Hurting Businesses of Innocent Traders During its Operations in Drug Markets.”
In the motion, Ogene noted NAFDAC’s crackdown on counterfeit medicines in markets including Idumota in Lagos, Ariaria in Aba, and Onitsha in Anambra State, but expressed concern over the agency’s heavy-handed approach.
“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,” the motion stated.
It also condemned the alleged break-in of shops by NAFDAC officials without the presence of shop owners or market leaders, describing the actions as undermining transparency and accountability.
“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 dents the integrity of the operation,” Ogene said.
He added that there were reports of traders and Point of Sale (POS) operators who left large sums of money in their shops during the sudden weekend raid, with no clear means of recovering the funds, leading to “frustration and bewilderment.”
The Labour Party Caucus urged NAFDAC to immediately halt any form of extortion, identify and prosecute actual offenders, and restore the rights of legitimate businesses in the affected markets.