A confrontation between Nigeria’s drug regulatory authority, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and West Africa’s largest pharmaceutical trading hub has escalated into a public dispute over enforcement methods. Both sides present starkly different narratives about a massive crackdown that removed over N1 trillion worth of allegedly dangerous drugs from circulation.
NAFDAC has mounted a robust defence of its enforcement operation across three major drug markets, including the controversial Onitsha Drug Market in Anambra State, dismissing accusations of extortion as baseless and reaffirming its commitment to protecting public health.
Speaking in Lagos on Friday, NAFDAC Director General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye declared that the agency’s actions between February 9 and March 27, 2025, were “absolutely necessary to save lives,” rejecting claims that officials engaged in arbitrary enforcement or witch-hunting.
“We cannot allow a system where people peddle poisons in the name of medicine. Our actions were not only lawful, they were absolutely necessary,” Prof. Adeyeye stated, noting that all investigative charges imposed on traders were federally gazetted and within legal boundaries.
The agency reported that following the operation, over 2,500 compliant traders with 3,500 shops had resumed operations after the Ogbo Ogwu section of Onitsha market reopened on March 9, 2025.
However, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has launched a counter-attack, demanding immediate refunds with 20% interest for what it terms “forcefully extorted” funds and calling for the resignation of top NAFDAC officials to allow an independent investigation.
In a statement signed by Board Chairman Emeka Umeagbalasi on Friday, Intersociety condemned what it characterised as “militarist, extortionist and collective punishment operations” against thousands of traders who had been denied access to their businesses for over 90 days.
“The Agency’s DG, its South-East Director and other top officials involved must submit themselves to public accountability by stepping down for thorough and unbiased investigations,” the civic organisation declared.
The dispute centres on investigative charges, including N5 million for unregistered product sales (later reduced to N200,000 after appeals) and N2 million for storage violations (reduced to N500,000). While NAFDAC insists these fines are legally prescribed and fairly applied, Intersociety argues traders were coerced into payments after prolonged business shutdowns.
Prof. Adeyeye defended the fee structure, explaining that reductions were granted “in good faith after careful consideration of appeals” and said that the charges “were not invented by NAFDAC overnight” but are rooted in official policy.
The Onitsha Drug Market, housing approximately 14,000 individuals, including 7,000 business owners across 5,000 outlets, has long been scrutinised as what NAFDAC describes as the “epicentre of counterfeit pharmaceuticals in West Africa.”
While supporting genuine drug traders, Intersociety acknowledged the need to combat fake medications, but criticised NAFDAC’s methods. The organisation also condemned the agency’s alleged misuse of cyberstalking laws against social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, known as “VeryDarkMan.”
Despite sending over 10 petitions to various authorities, including Governor Charles Soludo and federal health officials, Intersociety claims only Senator Tony Nwoye and Anambra State House Speaker Hon. Afam Ogene have acknowledged their concerns.
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