Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to reopen shops shut down at Onitsha Head Bridge Market.
Obi said small traders were now being asked to pay ₦700,000 before reopening their shops. These shops were closed earlier this year during NAFDAC’s raids on suspected sellers of fake and adulterated drugs.
He asked NAFDAC to show more compassion to struggling small businesses in the face of current Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Obi said he initially supported NAFDAC’s actions when the raids began because protecting Nigerians from harmful products is important.
“I recall visiting the Head Bridge Market during the initial phase of its closure,” he said. “I did so with the hope that investigations would be carried out swiftly.”
He added that the aim was not to punish innocent traders, but to support a clean and safe business environment.
“Let us prioritize compassion, economic recovery, and the survival of our small businesses at this critical time,” Obi said.
He stressed that many of the affected shop owners are still struggling to feed their families and pay their debts.
MSMEs Are Dying, Obi Warns
Obi expressed concern over the growing collapse of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria. He said over seven million MSMEs have closed in the past two years, describing Nigeria’s small businesses as “at a we-can’t-breathe stage.”
He added: “The very system that should be offering them oxygen to support their breathing is instead suffocating them.”
The former governor urged NAFDAC and other authorities to “review and drop this charge.”
He said the current reopening fee of ₦700,000 is unfair and could be perceived as an act of economic sabotage against the people.
Small Businesses Deserve Support, Not Punishment
Obi, himself a successful entrepreneur who prefers to refer to himself as a trader, reminded authorities that MSMEs are the backbone of the Nigerian economy. He said policies that add to their burden must be reviewed.
“These shop owners have already endured prolonged closures, mounting unpaid bills, and economic strain,” he said. “Adding further burdens to them is simply unjust.”
He called on the government to focus on reviving the economy and helping small businesses survive.
“Compassion must lie at the root of government action,” he concluded.
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