The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed the warehouses of five textile distributors in Kano for engaging in unethical business practices.
In a statement on Wednesday, Ondaje ljagwu, director of corporate affairs at FCCPC, said the companies were engaging in deceptive sale of underweight and shortened fabric materials to unsuspecting consumers, in violation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
According to Ijagwu, the affected warehouses were located at multiple sites across Kano, including Nos. 238, 249, 313, 315, 413, and 428 Gandun Abada Layout; Nos. 38 and 40 Ibrahim Taiwo Road; No. 87 BUA Rice Mills Street; Links I, II & III Ajasa Inuwa Wada Road; and No. 287 Gandun Albasa New Layout.
He said the enforcement operation, led by Boladale Adeyinka, FCCPC’s director of surveillance and investigation, followed weeks of surveillance around markets in Kano.
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“Today’s action is a culmination of weeks-long surveillance around Kano markets by FCCPC and the establishment of the prevalence of the sale of fabric materials significantly below the standard length or measurement indicated by retailers, while charging consumers the full price,” the statement reads.
“Section 123(1) of the FCCA states that no retailer, trader or supplier shall, in the course of trade or for the purpose of promoting or marketing any goods, make any representation to a consumer in a manner that is false, misleading, erroneous, or deceptive in any way, including in respect of the quantity or price at which goods are supplied.
“Similarly, Section 125(1) prohibits any undertaking from engaging in conduct that directly or indirectly implies a false or misleading representation concerning a material fact to a consumer or prospective consumer.
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“The textile products involved in the sharp practices include LGR Product, U&Me Product, Nana Tex Product, V Levintus Product and Mama Africa Product, Hightex Product, UE Product, S-U Velt Product and Jisiki Product.”
‘UNETHICAL PRACTICE CAN DRIVE LEGITIMATE RETAILERS OUT OF MARKET’
Speaking on the development, Tunji Bello, executive vice-chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of FCCPC, said the operation reflects the commission’s zero tolerance for any practice that exploits Nigerian consumers or distorts market or threatens fair competition.
“By undermining honest traders and businesses that comply with lawful standards, this nefarious practice of selling underweight products can drive legitimate retailers out of the market, thereby reducing consumer choice and entrenching anti-competitive behaviour,” Bello said.
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He assured Nigerians that the FCCPC will continue to deploy lawful enforcement measures to curb exploitative conduct across markets in the country.
The FCCPC boss also reminded retailers, distributors, and suppliers of their legal obligation to ensure that goods conform to declared descriptions, measurements, and standards.
Bello commended the diligence of the FCCPC team involved in the operation, and also thanked the security agencies for their cooperation in the exercise.
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