The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has inaugurated a Joint Market Monitoring Taskforce (JMMT) to combat the proliferation of counterfeit, substandard, and unsafe consumer products in Nigerian markets.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held in Abuja, Boladale Adeyinka, Director of Surveillance and Investigations at FCCPC, emphasized the Commission’s unwavering commitment to consumer safety and fair market practices.
Representing Tunji Bello, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Commission, she described the initiative as a crucial step in fulfilling the Commission’s mandate under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA).
“This event underscores FCCPC’s resolve to protect Nigerian consumers from harmful and unsafe products, while also promoting competitiveness and fairness in the marketplace,” she said.
Adeyinka noted that Nigerian markets have become inundated with fake and hazardous products that pose significant risks to consumers. With rising economic challenges impacting both buyers and sellers, she said it has become more important than ever for consumers to receive value for every naira spent.
Quoting Section 17 of the FCCPA, she reiterated the Commission’s legal duty to eliminate hazardous products and root out deceptive, unfair, and anti-competitive business practices.
Read also: FCCPC inaugurates committee to develop digital traceability portal, curb counterfeit goods
“Section 17 (m) (1) (g) (p) (r) (s) (t) of the FCCPA mandates the Commission to seek ways and means of removing hazardous and unsafe products from our markets, eliminate obnoxious and unscrupulous business and marketing practices that are deceptive unfair, and misleading, including anti-competitive practices that substantially prevent or lessen competition in our markets,”
She added that to ensure the success of the initiative, the Commission is working closely with key stakeholders, including market leaders and union executives. The JMMT will serve as a collaborative platform to enhance surveillance, enforcement, and compliance at the grassroots level.
“Effective market monitoring operations require all hands to be on deck. That is why we are working closely with market executives and stakeholders to make our markets work better for everyone,” she added.
The Phase 1 rollout of the JMMT will cover four major markets within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT): Wuse Market, Utako Market, Garki International Market, and Garki Modern Market. Representatives from these markets were present at the ceremony and have pledged their support for the Commission’s efforts.
The Terms of Reference guiding the Task Force’s operations have been discussed with its members, who have committed to upholding the objectives of the Commission.
As part of its ongoing efforts, the FCCPC also called on the general public to support this initiative by reporting suspected violations of consumer protection laws. The commission said that consumers can submit complaints or alerts through the Commission’s email, hotlines, complaint portal, or social media platforms.
