The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has firmly reiterated that traders whose shops were closed for selling banned, counterfeit, unregistered, and harmful drugs must pay a ₦700,000 fine before reopening. She dismissed criticisms and allegations of extortion leveled against the agency.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Friday, Prof. Adeyeye confirmed that over 2,500 traders with 3,500 shops in Ogbogwu Market, Onitsha, have resumed business after complying with NAFDAC’s directives, which included payment of the fine and removal of illegal products.

The fine—an investigative charge officially gazetted by the federal government—was revised following consultations. It was reduced from ₦5 million to ₦200,000 for the sale of unregistered drugs and from ₦2 million to ₦500,000 for storage violations. Despite this, some traders and stakeholders, including Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, have criticized the fees as excessive.

NAFDAC’s recent enforcement drives in major markets such as Idumota, Aba, and Onitsha led to the confiscation of harmful drugs valued at over ₦1 trillion. The agency said these measures are essential to protecting national health.

Prof. Adeyeye stressed that all actions, including shop closures and fines, followed due legal process. She stated,
“The agency will not cave in to pressure, and there will be no unconstitutional reopening of any shops that have not complied with NAFDAC directives. We will not turn a blind eye to these evil acts that have claimed thousands of innocent children and women due to fake and substandard medicines.”

She accused critics opposing the agency’s position of spreading misinformation and suggested they were likely traders unwilling to comply with the law.

Adeyeye appealed to Nigerians not to politicize the issue, affirming that NAFDAC will continue to act decisively within its mandate to safeguard public health.