Group condemns NAFDAC Over Alleged Extortion of N3.5 billon from Onitsha Drug Market Traders

The Human Rights Liberty Access and Peace Defenders'Foundation (HURIDE) and Campaign for Democracy (CD), South East Zone have unequivocally condemned  the exploitative and extortionist tendencies of the National Agency for Drugs Administration and Control                 ( NAFDAC) in Onitsha Anambra State.

In a press statement issued in Enugu State signed by the  Executive Director of HURIDE and Chairman of Campaign for Democracy (CD), High Chief Dede Uzor A Uzor,  the rights groups said the extortion of seven hundred thousand naira (700,000 ) per individual  trader in the name of  penalty charge against traders at Onitsha Drug Market was a clear case of extortion and ethnic victimisation. 

NAFDAC had on March 6th,2025, at Onitsha Drug market with combined  security operatives of the Nigerian Army,the DSS and  the Nigerian Police and other security forces invaded the market and clamped down on it with aim of impounding and confiscating unwholesome and adulterated drugs.

The groups said that they don't support any form of adulteration,  fake and substandard drugs  because according to them,"drug fakers are  more  dangerous than  armed robbers"

According to the group: "an armed robber will target his victim but a faker  targets the entire world if allowed to operate"?

But they contended that NAFDAC was not clean in  its operation ,saying that they did not consider the health of some citizens whose  lives depended on some  potent saving drugs from United kingdom (UK),  United State of America (USA) and other advanced  countries whose drugs haven't been registered with  NAFDAC because  of the bureaucratic bottleneck and huge amount being demanded by the agency before such drugs would be registered. 

Unfortunately, said the rights groups, these drugs  amounting to about over N1.5 trillions were said to have been impounded by NAFDAC.

They asked NAFDAC to as a matter of urgency  return all the monies collected  from traders in the name of penalty fees before such shops would  be reopened.

CD/HURIDE  called on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)  to immediately commence discreet investigation into  financial dealing of NAFDAC  officials during and since after the clampdown especially monies that acrued via payment by defenceless and innocent traders running into billions of naira.

"We are calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) to set up a special investigative team led by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court to unravel NAFDAC financial dealing in the last 20 years" said the group.

The rights groups equally urged the Federal Government to  support the Anambra State government  in her efforts to establish an International standard drug market (ISDM) at Oba in Idemili South Local Government Area of State which its construction is on-going.

They  said by now  NAFDAC  should have  known and arrested sizeable numbers of those who  are dealing on fake drugs and prosecute them, wondering why they should impose  fine of N700,000 per individual shop with a single individual being indicted. 

"Does payment amount to legalisation of fake drugs if such payment are made?

Does it mean that everyone in the market was involved  in dealing with fake and unwholesome drugs"?

We shall support the ongoing 7 days plan with the likes minds,Civil society groups, Opinion leaders, stakeholders and  cooperate organisations on the ongoing plans to engage in massive protest that would shake the foundation for Nigeria.

We call on President Bola Tinubu to immediately order the arrest and prosecution of South East and South South NAFDAC zonal officer based in Enugu for alleged official corruption and gross misconduct and his alleged criminal display in payment of N700.000 per individual shop,

High Chief Dede Uzor advised.