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The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has announced a major civil rights victory with the unconditional reopening of the Onitsha Drug Market on May 28, 2025, following nearly four months of closure by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The statement comes after a sustained public outcry and advocacy campaign involving prominent Nigerian figures, civic organizations, and rights activists.

According to Intersociety, the reopening was carried out by a high-powered NAFDAC delegation escorted by heavily armed operatives believed to be from the Department of State Services (SSS), who arrived at the market and ordered all locked shops to be reopened without conditions. The Onitsha Drug Market, described by Intersociety as housing approximately 14,000 individuals—including about 7,000 business owners and another 7,000 workers, apprentices, hawkers, and service providers—had been forcibly shut down by NAFDAC on February 9, 2025.

Intersociety, a leading Nigerian human rights and investigative advocacy group since 2008, took center stage in the campaign to have the market reopened. The organization submitted over ten public interest petitions and issued several media statements calling for the immediate lifting of the closure and an end to what it described as NAFDAC’s “militarist, extortionist and collective punishment operations.” These petitions were addressed to a wide range of stakeholders, including NAFDAC’s Director General, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, the Minister of Health, top security chiefs, and members of the national and state legislatures.

Despite the gravity and urgency of the petitions, Intersociety expressed disappointment that only the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Afam Ogene, and Senator Tony Nwoye offered any form of legislative response. The petitions submitted in February and April 2025 contained extensive findings and recommendations, which Intersociety said were disregarded by NAFDAC and other relevant authorities.

In its statement signed by some of its principal officers, including Criminologist and Head of Intersociety, Emeka Umeagbalasi; Chinwe Umeche, Esquire, head of Human Rights Lawyer/Head, Democracy and Good Governance; and Chidinma Evangeline Udegbunam, Esquire, Head, Religious Freedom and Human Rights, Intersociety strongly criticized NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, for her reaction to the advocacy efforts.

In particular, the group condemned her public statement of May 26, 2025, in which she accused Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as “Very Dark Man,” of colluding with fake drug merchants and inciting unrest. Intersociety described these accusations as false and noted with alarm that the DG had also incited security agencies against the activist and wrongly accused him of violating Nigeria’s Cyberstalking Act, despite the law having been amended in 2024 to remove its most draconian provisions.

Furthermore, Intersociety challenged the DG’s claim that the market had already reopened on March 9, 2025, and that more than 2,500 traders had resumed operations after meeting “regulatory procedures.” These procedures, Intersociety insisted, were in fact a series of extortionist fees forcibly imposed by the agency.

The group cited the DG’s own May 27, 2025, statement in which she admitted the imposition of an “administrative fee” of N5 million per unregistered product or brand, later reduced to N200,000 after appeals. The DG also admitted to the collection of another fee of N2 million, later cut to N500,000, for alleged violations of Good Storage and Distribution Practices.

Intersociety’s investigation, however, revealed a broader and more structured extortion scheme implemented by NAFDAC.

The group identified a “Poor Storage Fee” of N700,000 imposed on every market store owner, a separate “Poor Storage Fee” of N200,000 on each packing store owner, and a N200,000 levy for each multinational drug or product considered “unregistered” by NAFDAC—even for essential medicines and nutritional supplements. Traders were also forced to sign self-incriminating undertakings as a condition for reclaiming their businesses.

The group detailed a financial breakdown showing how a wholesaler could have been required to pay over N1.4 million if they had seven brands deemed unregistered, alongside the additional N700,000 and N200,000 fees depending on their store type.

All these payments, Intersociety reported, were made directly to NAFDAC’s Central Bank-linked account titled “NAFDAC Project TSA” with account number 3000063142. The account was reportedly blocked shortly after the market was reopened, and the extortion payment scheme was abruptly terminated.

Intersociety further disclosed what it called a canopy of “operational illegalities” committed by NAFDAC during its enforcement operation.

The organization accused the agency of breaking into shops in the absence of owners, seizing large volumes of pharmaceutically approved drugs and supplements worth billions of naira, and labeling the entire market as a hub for fake drugs.

It alleged that NAFDAC’s personnel, in collaboration with soldiers and police officers, engaged in the diversion and resale of confiscated goods, looted large sums of cash left behind by traders, and even ransacked non-pharmaceutical businesses within the market.

Amid the outrage, Intersociety praised the collective efforts of various individuals and organizations who stood in solidarity with the traders.

Among those commended were Martins Vincent Otse (Very Dark Man), Peter Obi, Senator Tony Nwoye, Hon. Afam Ogene, human rights lawyer Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, media platforms including Njenje Media TV, and advocacy groups like Unite Nigeria led by Sir Peter Okala, the South-East CD and HURIDE led by Comrade Uzor A. Uzor, the Anambra CLO led by Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, and a host of bloggers and activists who helped raise awareness and mobilize support.

Intersociety reiterated its call for accountability and reform, stating unequivocally that NAFDAC’s top leadership must be held responsible. It called for the resignation or suspension of Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Dr. Martins Iluyomade (South-East Director), and other senior officials implicated in the market operation, to allow for an impartial and thorough investigation into their conduct.

The group also demanded that all extorted funds, totaling an estimated N3 billion to N3.5 billion, be refunded to the affected 2,500 to 3,000 traders with a 20% interest.

The organization condemned the misuse of the repealed provisions of the 2015 Cyberstalking Act to suppress dissent and expressed shock at what it described as the Anambra State Police Command’s ignorance of the 2024 amendments to the law. The rush with which the police intervened and appeared to side with NAFDAC was described by Intersociety as a disturbing example of state-sponsored intimidation.

In closing, Intersociety reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing justice and transparency in the ongoing conflict between traders and regulatory authorities.

The group emphasized that the reopening of the Onitsha Drug Market represents a powerful example of what can be achieved through collective civic action, and it pledged to continue its investigations into the unresolved abuses that accompanied the market’s closure.

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