Call for Petition Against NAFDAC Over Drug Market Shutdown - As Perplied by Legislator to Traders
Nigerian Lawmaker Urges NAFDAC-Fined Drug Traders to Submit Extortion Complaints
In a statement issued on Monday, Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, a member of the House of Representatives representing Badagry Federal Constituency, has called on drug market traders whose establishments were closed by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to submit petitions if they believe they were extorted.
Whingan expressed concern over the allegations of extortion being circulated on social media, asserting that while NAFDAC has the right to regulate drug traders, such practices are unacceptable. He warned against inciting the public against the agency.
According to Whingan, the allegations pertain to NAFDAC's reported demands for payments to reopen shops, particularly those affected in the Onitsha drug market, though there are also references to markets in Lagos.
NAFDAC, in a clarification on Tuesday, maintained that any fines imposed were administered fairly across all affected markets according to the nation's law.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker and Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) emphasized the need for traders to present evidence of their legitimate businesses and any instances of NAFDAC's demands. He urged them to channel their grievances through his office in the National Assembly complex by submitting a formal petition.
Whingan pledged to raise the matter on the legislative floor to demand accountability and protect the livelihoods of affected traders. He concluded by stating, "Together, we can bring transparency and fairness to the system."
Regarding the ongoing controversy, there have been serious allegations of extortion reported by drug market traders during NAFDAC’s market closures, primarily concerning the Onitsha drug market (Ogbo Ogwu Market), though references to Lagos are less evident in the available sources. It is claimed that NAFDAC has been imposing a mandatory fee of N700,000 per shop owner before allowing them to reopen their shops, a practice that has been widely condemned by traders and lawmakers alike. However, NAFDAC defends the imposition of the fee, stating that such charges are statutory, but acknowledges the need for understanding given the current economic situation. To date, there is no clear evidence of immediate or substantive action by the Nigerian federal government to reverse the fines or address the allegations of extortion.
- Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, an APC lawmaker representing Badagry Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has urged traders affected by NAFDAC's market closures, particularly those in Onitsha and Lagos, to submit a formal petition if they believe they were extorted and provide evidence of their legitimate businesses.
- Whingan, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), has pledged to raise the matter on the legislative floor to demand accountability and protect the livelihoods of affected traders, and concluded by stating, "Together, we can bring transparency and fairness to the system."
- The controversy surrounding NAFDAC's reported demands for payments to reopen shops has sparked general-news and politics discussions, with Whigman's statement adding to the ongoing debate in business and crime-and-justice circles.
- While NAFDAC maintains that any fines imposed were administered fairly according to Nigerian law, the allegations of extortion have generated strong criticism, both online and offline, particularly within the Nigerian (Naija) community.
