The Federal Government conducted surprise enforcement operations at various supermarkets and markets in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday to ensure compliance with regulations on price display and quantity, with the aim of lowering food prices nationwide.
The Executive Secretary of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, led this initiative, targeting supermarkets engaging in unfair market practices such as price manipulation and illegal pricing schemes.
During the operation, the FCCPC sealed a supermarket and discovered fake rice contaminated with weevils, uncovering deceptive practices that misled consumers.
This crackdown comes in response to consumer concerns over rising costs of goods amid Nigeria’s high inflation rate, particularly in food prices, worsened by currency devaluation earlier in the year.
Related News: My Wife Insists I Use Condom, Would Prepare Food As If We Were Throwing a party- Man Laments
The FCCPC plans to intensify inspections in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Ibadan in the coming weeks to address abnormal price surges and combat market malpractices.
Sanctions will be imposed on businesses found violating regulations, with fines specified under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act.
Furthermore, the FCCPC intends to introduce a price tracker to monitor market prices and prevent exploitation of consumers by major retailers.
In response to the enforcement actions, the affected supermarket acknowledged wrongdoing and committed to adhering to consumer protection regulations in the future.
