In a bold move to sanitize market practices and safeguard consumer welfare, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has intensified efforts to root out widespread market malpractice in Abuja, warning traders against price-fixing, deceptive rebagging, and the sale of counterfeit products.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum held in Abuja on Tuesday, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Tunji Bello—represented by Principal Consumer and Business Education Officer, Bridget Etim—said the Commission has launched a wave of surveillance and enforcement activities across major markets in the Federal Capital Territory.
“This is not about targeting businesses,” Etim said. “It’s about protecting the integrity of our markets and the rights of Nigerian consumers.”
She disclosed that the Commission had recently sealed multiple shops in Utako Market after uncovering illegal practices, including the rebagging of substandard rice falsely labelled as premium foreign brands.
“Just two months ago, in April, we shut down outlets in Utako where fake rice was being rebranded to mislead consumers,” Bello stated through Etim. “Such practices cheat consumers and punish honest traders.”
The Commission also inaugurated a Joint Market Monitoring Taskforce (JMMT) involving multiple agencies, to address counterfeiting and unethical trade practices across four key markets in the FCT—Wuse Market, Utako Market, Garki International Market, and Garki Modern Market.
The initiative, according to the FCCPC, is backed by the broader objective of the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Bello noted that a healthy market environment is essential to Nigeria’s economic revival.
“Nigeria cannot grow if her markets are broken. But when our markets are fair, competitive, and transparent, everybody wins — the buyer, the seller, and the economy,” he said.
The FCCPC also warned traders involved in price collusion—particularly during festive periods or scarcity—that such actions are not only unethical but illegal under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) of 2018.
“These are not just bad business practices, they are illegal,” Bello warned. “Where infractions persist, the Commission will act decisively.”
In addition to enforcement, the forum emphasized collaboration and education. The Commission is calling on market leaders and associations to report illicit practices such as product counterfeiting, short measures, and exploitative pricing.
“Our visit is not for show. We are here to educate, but also to collaborate,” Bello emphasized. “Markets work best when everyone plays by the rules.”
The FCCPC said it will continue its nationwide campaign through similar forums and multilingual education drives aimed at fostering compliance, market transparency, and consumer protection.
