Former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has strongly condemned the reported imposition of a ₦700,000 reopening fee on shop owners at the Head Bridge Market in Onitsha following its closure by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Obi, who visited the market during the initial phase of its shutdown in support of efforts to rid the market of fake drugs and counterfeit goods, said he did so with the expectation that investigations would be swift and that the market would be promptly reopened, especially to reduce the hardship on small business owners grappling with Nigeria’s harsh economic conditions.
In a public statement, Obi expressed disappointment that despite the market being closed for an extended period, shop owners are now being asked to pay a hefty fee to reopen their businesses.
“Our MSMEs are at a ‘we can’t breathe’ stage,” Obi said, “and the very system that should be offering them oxygen to support their breathing is instead suffocating them.”
Citing data that over 7 million Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have collapsed in Nigeria in the past two years, Obi described the charge as “insensitive,” “disturbing,” and “uncaring.”
He reiterated his support for regulatory efforts to eliminate fake drugs, but urged the authorities to balance enforcement with economic empathy.
“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 act of economic sabotage,” he added.
Calling for an immediate review and removal of the reopening fee, Obi appealed to NAFDAC and other relevant bodies to act with compassion and prioritize the survival and recovery of small businesses.