Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has slammed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for demanding ₦700,000 from shop owners to reopen their businesses at the Onitsha Head Bridge Market.
Obi’s reaction follows a viral video by social media commentator VeryDarkMan (VDM), who accused NAFDAC of demanding the hefty sum from traders whose shop was sealed during recent enforcement operations.
NAFDAC did not directly address this specific claim but noted that traders who complied with regulatory requirements have been permitted to resume business, with over 2,500 traders in 3,500 shops operational since March 9, 2025.
Reacting to this, Obi, in a tweet on Tuesday, said it is “deeply unfortunate” to learn that shop owners are now being asked to pay ₦700,000 to reopen their stores.
Obi stated that while he had supported the closure to rid the market of fake drugs, he never anticipated such a burden would be placed on already struggling small business owners.
“I did so with the hope that investigations would be carried out swiftly, and the market would be reopened promptly, especially to ease the suffering of small business owners already burdened by our current national economic challenges,” Obi said.
“It is, therefore, deeply unfortunate to learn that shop owners are now being asked to pay ₦700,000 to reopen their stores.”
According to him, over seven million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have already collapsed in the past two years in Nigeria.
The former Anambra governor added that MSMEs’ businesses are at a “we can’t breathe” stage, and the very system that should be offering them oxygen to support their breathing is instead “suffocating them.”
Obi noted that the level of insensitivity is both “disturbing and uncaring.
He then called on relevant authorities to reconsider the alleged charges and prioritise compassion, economic recovery, and the survival of small businesses at this critical time in the nation.
“I want to appeal again to the relevant authorities: please review and drop this charge. Allow these businesses to reopen,” Obi said.
“These shop owners have already endured prolonged closures, mounting unpaid bills, and economic strain. Adding further burdens to them and their families at this time is simply unjust and an economic sabotage.”
