VeryDarkMan Accuses NAFDAC of Mass Extortion as Ogbogwu Drug Market Remains Shut

Outrage is brewing in Onitsha following explosive claims by outspoken activist VeryDarkMan, who has accused the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of mass extortion and abuse of office. At the center of the controversy is the Ogbogwu drug market, reputed to be West Africa’s largest pharmaceutical hub, where traders say they’ve been locked out of their businesses for over three months.

The activist, known for his bold exposés, alleged that NAFDAC shut down the entire market on February 8, 2025, over the presence of counterfeit drugs in a few stores. Rather than target the specific offenders, the agency reportedly sealed more than 5,000 shops in a sweeping clampdown that has paralyzed business and left thousands of traders in financial distress.

“Traders are suffering. Their shops have been shut for months, and NAFDAC is demanding outrageous sums just to let them reopen,” VeryDarkMan said in a live broadcast from the market. According to him, the agency initially asked for 500,000 naira per shop, a figure that later ballooned to 700,000 naira.

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Market leaders corroborated the claims, revealing that over 1,000 traders have already paid the fee under pressure, while many more remain shut out, unable to afford the steep demand.

“This isn’t regulation—it’s extortion,” one shop owner lamented. “Small-scale vendors and workers haven’t earned a kobo since the closure. Families are suffering.”

VeryDarkMan called the situation a “criminal exploitation disguised as policy enforcement” and urged the federal government and Anambra State authorities to step in. He also accused NAFDAC of turning a blind eye to due process, punishing an entire market community for the actions of a few.

At the time of filing this report, NAFDAC had not issued an official response. However, the controversy is gaining traction, with civil society groups, legal practitioners, and human rights activists beginning to speak out. Many are calling for an independent investigation, the immediate reopening of shops, and legal action against those responsible for the alleged abuse.

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