The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has ramped up its monitoring of markets across Lagos, urging traders to put an end to price inflation and stop endangering consumers with fake or unsafe goods.
At a Market Engagement Forum in Lagos, Mr Tunji Bello, the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, issued a direct warning to businesses.
Represented by Mrs Bridget Etim, Principal Consumer and Business Education Officer, FCCPC, he reminded all traders big or small that they must comply with the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, FCCPA, 2018.
While speaking on the outcome of the Commission’s recent enforcement drives, Bello pointed to troubling discoveries, including expired rice re-bagged and marketed as top-quality products at Daleko Market. He described these as “wrong and illegal” practices, highlighting how they pose serious health risks and tarnish the reputation of traders who run honest businesses.
FCCPC teams also visited other major trading centres, including Mile 12 and Alaba markets.
At Mile 12, the Commission uncovered a pattern of tampered scales, underweight food items, and possible price-fixing involving key staples such as rice, pepper, and yam.
At Alaba International Market, which serves as a hub for electronics, the agency focused on the sale of counterfeit appliances, falsely labeled “Tokunbo” products, as well as fake warranty offers and coordinated pricing of devices like phones, televisions, and generators.
“These are not minor issues. They affect household income, endanger consumer safety, and erode public trust,” Bello said. “They violate key provisions of the FCCPA 2018, which prohibit deceptive practices and unfair pricing.”
He emphasised that these acts not only distort the market but also create an uneven playing field that puts ethical traders at a disadvantage.
Bello acknowledged the realities of inflation and operational costs but reiterated that they cannot justify dishonest behaviour.
He said the FCCPC remains committed to its dual responsibility, protecting consumer rights and voicing the concerns of law-abiding businesses.
He encouraged market leaders to cooperate with the Commission in building a transparent trading environment where shoppers are not exploited.
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He added that traders should adopt fair practices, respond to customer feedback, and deal truthfully at all times.
According to him, FCCPC is optimistic that this renewed engagement will lead to a shared vision with market associations to eradicate all forms of abusive and deceptive practices.
Also speaking at the Mile 12 event, Alhaji Shehu Jibril, Chairman of Mile 12 Market, called attention to the threat of insecurity faced by farmers.
He said, “Farmer security is critical for national food security and for them to be able to cultivate and harvest without facing ransom threats.”
He urged the government to support the use of Compressed Natural Gas trucks strictly for transporting perishable food, warning that sharing trucks for both chemicals and food is dangerous.
Jibril further raised concerns about high transportation costs, saying, “The excessive cost of over N150,000 to transport goods from Kano to Lagos, driven by multiple taxes, severely impedes the movement of goods.”
He called on the government to offer financial aid to struggling market traders, especially those in Mile 12, stressing that many of them lack capital and require support to maintain a steady food supply.