Popular activist and content creator Verydarkblackman has raised alarm over what he describes as blatant extortion, oppression, and abuse of power by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). In a video now trending with over 1.7 million views on Facebook, he appeared live from Ogbogwu Market in Onitsha, Anambra State—the largest medication market in Nigeria—where he confronted what many are calling an unjust crackdown.
According to Verydarkblackman, on February 8th, 2025, NAFDAC shut down the entire market, citing the discovery of fake drugs in some shops. Instead of identifying and prosecuting the actual offenders, the agency reportedly sealed over 5,000 shops, crippling businesses and livelihoods across the market. After a three-month closure, NAFDAC allegedly returned with a condition: every shop owner must pay ₦500,000 to have their shop reopened. The fee was later increased to ₦700,000.
So far, over 1,000 shop owners are said to have paid the amount, while many others remain unable to meet the demand, leaving their shops locked and their businesses in limbo. The situation has sparked widespread condemnation, with Verydarkblackman calling on the federal and Anambra State governments to intervene and end what he described as “total extortion and injustice.” He stressed that holding innocent traders responsible for the actions of a few undermines the principles of justice and fairness, and declared, “This is not the Nigeria we want.”
