The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has stepped up its nationwide sensitisation campaign, targeting traders and consumers in major markets to improve awareness and strengthen compliance with consumer protection laws.
Speaking during an outreach programme in Lagos, Mrs Olubunmi Otti, South-West Zonal Coordinator of the commission, said the initiative adopts a grassroots approach aimed at engaging market participants directly.
“We are taking sensitisation to the streets because we want to meet businesses and consumers where they are. The goal is to turn regulatory awareness into everyday market practices,” she said.
According to Otti, the campaign has already covered key commercial hubs such as Computer Village and is ongoing in other markets as part of efforts to promote a culture of compliance.
“This sensitisation is geared towards building a culture of compliance and consumer consciousness from the ground up. We want to prevent violations before they occur by ensuring traders understand their obligations and consumers know their rights and responsibilities,” she added.
She emphasised that consumer education remains critical in protecting the public from exploitation. “When you empower consumers with the information they need before going to the market, you have already protected them,” she said.
Otti clarified that the FCCPC does not regulate prices but ensures fair competition in line with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.
“The FCCPC does not fix prices. We allow the forces of demand and supply to interact. However, prices must be fair, and any form of price fixing by businesses is a violation of the law,” she said.
She warned that price fixing, whether explicit or implied, contravenes the Act and would attract sanctions where established.
While noting that the commission is prioritising awareness, Otti said enforcement actions would follow in cases of non-compliance. “We are creating awareness first. But when violations happen, the law will take its course,” she said.
She added that the commission’s surveillance teams conduct routine inspections to ensure product safety and quality standards are upheld. “Our officers go to markets regularly to inspect products. Any product found to violate the provisions of the Act will be sanctioned,” she said.
On product standards, Otti stressed that all goods must carry clear information in English to ensure accessibility.
“English is the official language of Nigeria. Any product not labelled in English has violated the law. Information must be clear and understandable to all categories of consumers,” she said.
The sensitisation exercise, carried out in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has been well received by traders and consumers at Alaba International Market.
Mr Monye Bernard, Principal Programme Officer at NOA, said the initiative is designed to empower consumers to seek redress when exploited.
“We are here to inform consumers about their rights on goods and services. This is a collaboration between the NOA and the FCCPC to ensure Nigerians are protected,” he said.
Market participants welcomed the campaign, describing it as timely and necessary. A trader, Mrs Augustina Okenna, said increased awareness would help curb unfair practices. “At least now, when we buy something and it is not correct, we know where to report,” she said.
Similarly, electronics dealer Chinedu Okafor noted that the campaign would help genuine businesses build trust, while customer Emeka Nwankwo said it would improve accountability among sellers.
