The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has issued a strong warning to traders across Lagos State, urging them to desist from artificial price inflation and deceptive trade practices. The commission reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding consumer rights and promoting fair competition in Nigeria’s marketplace.
Speaking during a Market Engagement Forum held in Lagos, FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tunji Bello represented by Principal Consumer and Business Education Officer, Mrs. Bridget Etim underscored the commission’s zero tolerance for fraudulent practices that violate the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) of 2018.
“These are not minor issues. They affect household income, endanger consumer safety, and erode public trust,” Bello said, warning that all traders, regardless of their size or location, are subject to the law.
The forum follows a series of enforcement operations by FCCPC in major Lagos markets, including Daleko, Mile 12, and Alaba International Market. At Daleko Market, the commission discovered expired rice being re-bagged and fraudulently sold as premium brands a practice Bello condemned as “illegal and dangerous.”
At Mile 12, known as Lagos’s largest food hub, FCCPC operatives addressed widespread abuses such as tampered weighing scales, underweight sales, repackaged spoiled produce, and suspected price-fixing on essential food items including yam, rice, and pepper.
The commission also extended its scrutiny to Alaba International Market, a major electronics hub, where it confronted issues ranging from counterfeit appliances to false warranty claims and coordinated price manipulation involving items like televisions, generators, and mobile phones.
“Such violations undermine ethical traders, compromise consumer safety, and damage Nigeria’s retail reputation,” the FCCPC CEO warned. “They violate key provisions of the FCCPA 2018, which prohibit deceptive practices and unfair pricing.”
While acknowledging the operational challenges traders face, including rising transport costs and inflation, Bello stressed the commission’s dual role: protecting consumers and championing legitimate business concerns. He called for cooperation from market associations to establish new standards of honesty, transparency, and integrity.
During the engagement, Alhaji Shehu Jibril, Chairman of Mile 12 Market, highlighted the urgent need for security support for farmers and investment in dedicated food transport infrastructure, including Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks. He raised concerns over the health risks of transporting food in chemical-laden vehicles and called for government grants to assist capital-strapped traders.
In Alaba, Chief Camilus Amajuoyi, Chairman of the Alaba International Amalgamated Council of Sections and head of the International Market Association Electronics, pledged the market’s full support to the FCCPC’s enforcement efforts.
“We are ready to partner with you,” Amajuoyi stated. “We will help you find and catch those selling bad products. Such illegal acts hurt Alaba’s name.”
Amajuoyi also denied ongoing sales of fake products in Alaba, asserting that many traders have shifted to promoting locally made, indigenous brands.
“Most products here are Nigerian-branded goods now,” he said, while vowing that the association’s executive council would actively root out remaining bad actors.
The FCCPC said it remains optimistic that the renewed collaboration with traders will lead to a healthier market environment, where consumers can shop confidently and honest businesses are protected.