A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Afam Ogene, has strongly condemned the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for allegedly imposing a N700,000 levy on traders to reopen their shops in the Onitsha drug market.

Ogene, who represents Ogbaru Federal Constituency in Anambra State under the Labour Party, described NAFDAC's action as "scandalous, outrageous and reprehensible" in a statement issued in Onitsha on Tuesday.

According to the lawmaker, documented evidence shows that NAFDAC is officially extorting N700,000 from each shop owner in the drug market as an access fee to allow them reopen their businesses. He alleged that over 1,000 shop owners have already paid this controversial fee.

"What is this money for? If it's for access to the shops of affected traders, does it imply that the fee absolves those guilty of drug counterfeiting? How is this fair to innocent businesses in the market?" Ogene questioned.

The representative recalled that the House of Representatives had previously cautioned NAFDAC in a February motion against harming innocent businesses during operations at the market. He expressed concern about the agency's operational efficiency, noting the prolonged market closure and NAFDAC's apparent inability to identify and prosecute those responsible for drug counterfeiting.

"Doesn't this contradict the principles of fairness and justice that democracy and the rule of law uphold? This controversy is avoidable and distracts from the fight against fake drugs," he stated.

Ogene further criticized the blanket imposition of the levy on all business owners regardless of their culpability in the alleged offenses that led to the market's closure.

"NAFDAC's actions are unethical, unacceptable, and reprehensible; the agency must act swiftly to address this issue, which threatens its image and credibility, and saves the institution from further embarrassment," the lawmaker concluded.

As of the time of this report, NAFDAC has not issued an official response to these allegations.