Extortion in Broad Daylight! — VeryDarkMan Slam NAFDAC Over ₦700K Reopening Fee for Onitsha Drug Market Shops

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Controversial activist and social commentator, VeryDarkMan, has called out the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo over what he describes as “pure extortion and abuse of power” at the Onitsha drug market, known as the Ogbo-Ogwu Market.

In a video recorded live from the Head Bridge Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, VeryDarkMan accused NAFDAC officials of exploiting shop owners under the guise of a clampdown on fake drugs.

According to him, the market—home to over 5,000 shops—was abruptly shut down by NAFDAC on February 8, 2025, after the agency claimed that some traders were selling counterfeit medications. But instead of identifying and prosecuting the actual culprits, he alleges, the agency locked up the entire market and is now demanding a ₦700,000 fee per shop before they can reopen.

“NAFDAC, why not go after those selling fake drugs and leave people’s businesses alone?” he asked in his post, accusing the agency of turning a serious regulatory issue into a money-making venture.

He further claimed that over 1,000 shop owners have already paid the fee, while many others remain shut out of their businesses because they cannot afford the exorbitant sum. “How does it make sense to punish thousands of innocent traders for the crimes of a few?” he questioned.

Directly addressing Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, Verydarkman asked if the governor was aware that “thousands of people are being extorted right under your nose.” He criticised the silence from both state and federal authorities and called for urgent intervention to stop what he termed “daylight robbery.”

“This is not the Nigeria we want,” he declared. “If fake drugs were found, then arrest the sellers and prosecute them. You don’t lock down a whole economy and force everyone to pay to resume their livelihoods. That’s extortion, not regulation.”

The Ogbo-Ogwu Market is considered the largest drug market in West Africa, and the allegations have triggered fresh outrage online, with many Nigerians demanding transparency from NAFDAC and swift action from the state government.

As of the time of this report, NAFDAC has yet to release an official statement responding to the allegations. Calls for a full-scale investigation are mounting.