A post that has been making waves on the popular social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has sparked a major controversy, as serious allegations have been raised against officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, over the forceful closure of pharmacies and medical equipment shops in the Idumota area of Lagos State.
According to the viral post, a distressed pharmacy owner in Idumota reached out to a well-known social media influencer to share his grievances and seek intervention regarding the prolonged shutdown of businesses in the area. He claimed that the closure, which has lasted for weeks, has severely impacted the livelihoods of hundreds of traders and workers dependent on the pharmaceutical market.
The pharmacy owner revealed that several businesses involved in the sale of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies have been forcefully shut down without clear reasons or official explanations from the authorities. Many shop owners have been unable to access their stores despite adhering to legal and regulatory standards.
He further explained that NAFDAC operatives initially stormed the market in search of a specific drug suspected to be illegally distributed. However, even after the completion of the search operation, many compliant shop owners whose businesses were found to be legitimate have remained locked out of their premises, unable to resume normal operations.
According to the allegations, NAFDAC officials are now demanding outrageous sums of money from shop owners before allowing them to reopen their businesses. Reports indicate that those found with no illegal or incriminating items in their stores are allegedly being asked to pay a sum of ₦2 million, while those discovered with restricted or illicit substances are being forced to pay a staggering ₦20 million.
Expressing his frustration over the situation, the affected business owner questioned the rationale behind forcing innocent shop owners to pay such exorbitant amounts after weeks of financial hardship caused by the closure. He lamented that the prolonged shutdown has not only drained the savings of traders but has also left many of them drowning in debts just to meet their daily needs.
The man emphasized that the situation has gone beyond just shop owners, as the forced closure has had a ripple effect on the entire market ecosystem. Young apprentices who were recently settled to start their own businesses have had no choice but to dip into their startup capital to survive. Meanwhile, food vendors, market porters (alabaru), and laborers who rely on the daily activities of the market for income have all been thrown into financial distress.
In addition to the economic impact, the man highlighted the devastating consequences on the healthcare sector. According to him, numerous urgent orders for pharmaceutical and medical equipment, including supplies required for life-saving surgeries and critical medical procedures, have gone unfulfilled due to the ongoing closure of shops. This, he argues, is placing countless patients and hospitals at risk.
He also raised concerns about the transparency of NAFDAC’s operations, questioning the whereabouts of the drugs and substances allegedly seized during the raid. He called on the agency to publicly release video evidence of the destruction of any confiscated illicit drugs to ensure accountability. He expressed fears that without proper oversight, the seized drugs could secretly be reintroduced into the market through corrupt means.
In his words:
“Good day, I’m writing to you to raise your voice against the ongoing oppression targeting those of us who sell medicals (drugs and equipment), popularly known as ‘ogbo ogwu’. For four weeks now, our livelihoods have been put on hold. Even though NAFDAC’s search ended two weeks ago, we are still not allowed to reopen our businesses.”
“It’s even more painful because people like me, who sell strictly hospital and medical equipment, have no business with NAFDAC. Yet, we are being made to suffer alongside others.”
“The latest update we got from those who visited the NAFDAC office in Apapa is that shop owners found with no illegal items are required to pay ₦2 million, while those with illegal items must pay ₦20 million. I was not physically present during the negotiations, but this was the information shared on our group chat.”
“Why should I pay ₦2 million when my shop was found to be compliant after weeks of forced closure? Who should be compensating who?”
“Please, I beg you to amplify this injustice. This is the fourth week, and our savings are gone. Many traders are now in debt just to feed their families. Newly settled apprentices are burning through their capital, food sellers have lost their customers, and laborers have lost their income. This crisis is affecting everyone.”
“I can’t even count how many emergency orders we’ve received for surgical supplies and other critical items that we can’t fulfill because of the shutdown. This situation is affecting the entire medical ecosystem in Nigeria.”
“Lastly, NAFDAC should be transparent and show video evidence of the destruction of any seized illicit drugs. This is Nigeria — we all know how things work. Please help us raise this issue.”
As this post continued to circulate on social media, it triggered widespread reactions from Nigerians, many of whom took to the comment section to express their outrage, demand justice, and share their personal experiences regarding the situation.
See some reactions below:
@LawalFuad1: “To corroborate this, I have a neighbour who is getting a job at a shop in Lagos. The only thing pending him starting the job is cos of the closure. Now here is the chills, HE SAID NAFDAC ARE REQUESTING FOR SOME FUNDS BEFORE THOSE PLACE CAN OPEN. really didn’t beliv at 1st.”
@ifypearls: “NAFDAC having closed down the drug markets, are asking for bribes to reopen the markets. It’s crazy.”
@Uzodicemillion1: “Yes I’m a business owner in idumota too. Yesterday makes it 3 weeks that our market has been shut down, and NAFDAC said that each shop will pay ₦2m and sign agreement that after six months all of us will vacate idumota, barely 3 yrs I started business after serving my boss.”
@Omoosun100: “Those that sell plumbing equipments have no business with NAFDAC, but medicines were found in unhealthy storage conditions there. The 2m he is paying is for next time, if he see something, he should say something so that he won’t pay 2m again.”
@MaziOkigbo: “Soludo na akụ asịrị akwụgharị ka ịbiriachị. Anyị afụgo nụ ihe omenwuru. Eche m ma ọ si na ọ ga enye aka expedite a the so called NAFDAC investigations ka afịa ndị o nweghị iwu ha dara mepee.”
@_OmoJesse: “You can’t wake up someone who pretends to be asleep. I would have said there is hope if they make reports but looking at the present Nigeria leadership it is sad to say no help is in sight. The man up there is corruption personified.”
@oforitseno: “Extortion is fast becoming our culture in Nigeria, so sad. NAFDAC should be called to order immediately and those unaffected shops reopened immediately.”
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