The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has raised concerns over the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control's (NAFDAC) recent closure of a major pharmaceutical market in Onitsha, Anambra State, calling for calm amid growing unrest among traders and local residents.

The shutdown was part of NAFDAC's nationwide enforcement campaign conducted between February 9 and March 27, 2025, which targeted three key open drug markets: Idumota in Lagos, Ariaria in Aba, and Onitsha in Anambra. During the operation, NAFDAC seized and destroyed substandard, falsified, and expired medical products valued at over ₦1 trillion.

According to NAFDAC, many of the affected warehouses and outlets were operating without proper registration from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and failed to meet Good Storage and Distribution Practice (GSDP) standards required by law.

Penalties and Regulatory Actions

NAFDAC defended its actions in a statement, noting that penalties imposed on non-compliant operators were in accordance with gazetted federal regulations. These included a ₦5 million fine for the sale of unregistered products, which was later reduced to ₦200,000 following appeals, and a ₦2 million penalty for GSDP violations, subsequently reduced to ₦500,000.

The regulatory measures have sparked sharp reactions and fears of economic displacement within the Anambra trading community, prompting the IHRC to intervene.

IHRC Calls for Dialogue

IHRC's Country Representative, Ambassador Dr. Duru Hezekiah, issued a public statement urging all stakeholders to remain calm and avoid actions that could trigger a breakdown of law and order.

"We call on NAFDAC to engage in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders, including market unions, civil society groups, and local authorities," said Ambassador Duru. "Enforcement strategies should be balanced, emphasizing compliance education and corrective actions over punitive closures."

While acknowledging NAFDAC's legal mandate to safeguard public health, the IHRC emphasized that enforcement must uphold principles of fairness, due process, and human dignity, especially where people's livelihoods are affected.

Call for Government Intervention

The IHRC has called on the Federal Government to establish an independent review panel to assess the circumstances of the market closure and recommend appropriate remedial actions consistent with the rule of law and human rights standards.

Reaffirming its commitment to justice and equity, the IHRC offered to facilitate dialogue among stakeholders to ensure a peaceful and constructive resolution. It also appealed to both the Anambra State Government and federal authorities to act swiftly to de-escalate the situation.

"Justice and human dignity must remain the foundation of regulatory governance," the IHRC statement concluded.