Senator Tony Nwoye, representing Anambra North Senatorial District, has strongly condemned the prolonged closure and reported 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 over the weekend, Nwoye described the situation as a “clear case of regulatory overreach,” urging both the Federal and Anambra State Governments to urgently intervene and end what he called a “gross injustice.”
The market has remained closed since February 2025, when NAFDAC raided the popular drug hub over alleged sales of counterfeit medicines. However, Nwoye pointed out that the punitive measures have affected thousands of shop owners across sectors, not just pharmaceutical traders.
“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 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 NAFDAC raid, accompanied by former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, as well as other federal and state lawmakers. During the visit, the delegation met with affected traders and witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of the closure on the local economy.
He also condemned NAFDAC’s imposition of a “blanket penalty of ₦500,000 per shop—later increased to ₦700,000—as a prerequisite for reopening,” describing the demand as “exploitative” and lacking any legal basis.
“To punish over 5,000 traders indiscriminately without due process is to violate both the spirit and letter of the law,” the Senator stated. “This is not regulation, it is economic persecution.”
According to the statement, reports suggest that 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 been subjected to such widespread penalisation and called for the immediate refund of all monies already collected from innocent traders.
He also urged Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to take further action and intensify efforts to resolve the matter.
“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.
