NAFDAC Clarifies Reopening Fees for Shops in Onitsha Market

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has clarified the administrative fees imposed on traders in the Onitsha market following the temporary closure of several shops over regulatory violations.

In a statement issued by the agency, NAFDAC confirmed that two main charges were levied. The first was an investigative fee of N5 million imposed for the sale of unregistered products.

However, after appeals and interventions from stakeholders, this amount was reduced to N200,000.

The second charge concerned violations of Good Storage and Distribution Practices (GSDP), for which NAFDAC initially imposed a N2 million penalty. This was also reduced to N500,000 following similar interventions.

NAFDAC emphasized that the fees were administrative and intended to enforce compliance with national drug and food safety regulations, not to punish traders arbitrarily.

The agency reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health while maintaining open lines of communication with market associations and stakeholders to ensure fair enforcement of standards.