Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has strongly criticized the Nigerian Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) for shutting down markets in Onitsha, Anambra State, over issues related to drug offences.
Obi views the closures as a serious blow to small businesses and an obstacle to the country’s economic growth.
The former Anambra State governor expressed his dissatisfaction following mixed reactions to his previous call for the immediate reopening of markets not involved in illicit drug activities. Obi emphasized that penalizing legitimate traders for the wrongdoings of a few is a poor governance practice that harms the economy.
He noted, “When those who have never built or managed businesses are in charge, they take actions that cripple legitimate businesses and stifle economic growth.”
Obi further pointed out that such measures are detrimental to Nigeria’s progress, stressing that the country has continued to face economic challenges because governance often fails to address the everyday realities of Nigerian citizens.
He urged the government to recognize the importance of small-scale businesses, asserting that they are a vital part of the economy. According to Obi, a failure to support these businesses can only hinder the nation’s development.
The former governor also compared Nigeria’s handling of small businesses to the approach of countries like Indonesia, where Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contribute over 90% of the employment, and the government offers support to these businesses while punishing lawbreakers in a targeted manner.
“Today, entire markets are being shut down because of the actions of a few. You do not cripple an Ogbo Ogwo market and surrounding markets for several days in the name of enforcement. This is not governance; it is economic sabotage.
“Small businesses must be protected—not destroyed—if we truly want to build a productive nation. I respectfully appeal once again that businesses not involved in the sale of fake drugs should not be shut down due to the huge implications of closing businesses that depend on daily profits to survive.
“A one-month closure will cripple many of them. We have witnessed similar situations in the past, where businesses reopened only to find that goods with short shelf lives had expired, resulting in huge losses.
“Additionally, I like to advise that shop owners should be present before any searches are conducted on their premises to ensure transparency and fairness,” he added.
