The candidate of labour party in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, has condemned demands on shop owners in the Onitsha Head Bridge market to pay N700,000 to reopen their shops after the market was closed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over fake and counterfeit drugs production and sales.
Obi, in a tweet on his X handle regretted that instead of showing support to small and medium businesses in an economy that is hardly conducive for their survival, the government was rather creating a harsh system that stifles businesses.
He wrote, “MSMEs are at a “we can’t breathe” stage, and the very system that should be offering them oxygen to support their survival is instead suffocating them.”
The former Anambra State governor also recalled visiting the Head Bridge Market during the initial phase of its closure and standing in support of the authorities to ensure Nigeria was free from fake drugs and counterfeit goods.
“I did so with the hope that investigations would be carried out swiftly and that the market would be reopened promptly, especially to ease the suffering of small business owners already burdened by our current national economic challenges.”
He also revealed that there are additional charges based on individual violations, adding that in such cases, individuals concerned should be held accountable through due process, while innocent traders should not be collectively punished.
According to him, it was necessary for the government to distinguish between genuine offenders and compliant business owners, ensuring that enforcement does not become a blanket measure that inflicts undue hardship on the wider market community.
This is as he further insisted that shop owners were not to be blamed for such “structural deficiencies that are not of their own making.”
“Even if the charges are statutory, given the dire state of the economy today, they should be tempered with understanding. The emphasis should be on ensuring compliance with regulations while granting these business owners reasonable time to meet such requirements. Imposing measures that might cripple them further serves no one’s interest.
“What is needed is rigorous engagement with all stakeholders, with clear agreements being signed to ensure compliance without stifling livelihoods. Times are tough – many families are losing their means of sustenance and, in desperation, some are resorting to crime. We cannot afford to create another set of economic victims or push more citizens toward criminality.
“Surely, I continue to stand in support of the authorities to ensure our society is free from fake drugs and counterfeit goods. But I did so with the belief that investigations would be swift and the market promptly reopened to alleviate the hardship of our small-scale entrepreneurs.
“These shop owners have already faced prolonged closures, mounting unpaid bills, and severe economic strain. To now impose additional financial burdens on them for structural issues beyond their control is not only unjust but also counterproductive.
In an economy where millions of small businesses are collapsing, the focus should be on relief and recovery, not punishment. It is time to act with compassion and common sense—drop the charges, reopen the market, and allow these entrepreneurs the opportunity to rebuild their livelihoods and contribute to the nation’s economy.”
