The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed off five textile warehouses in Kano for engaging in deceptive trade practices that short-changed consumers.
In a major enforcement operation led by Mrs. Boladale Adeyinka, director of Surveillance and Investigation, the Commission discovered that several distributors were selling underweight and shortened fabric materials to unsuspecting buyers, in clear violation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
According to a statement by Ondaje Ijagwu, FCCPC’s director of Corporate Affairs, the crackdown followed weeks of surveillance across Kano markets, which revealed that many fabric retailers were selling materials below the stated length or measurement while charging consumers the full price.
“Today’s action is a culmination of weeks-long surveillance around Kano markets by the FCCPC and the establishment of the prevalence of the sale of fabric materials significantly below the standard length or measurement indicated by retailers,” Ijagwu stated.
The Commission cited Sections 123(1) and 125(1) of the FCCPA, which prohibit traders from making false, misleading, or deceptive representations about goods, including their quantity or price.
The affected products include LGR Product, U&Me Product, Nana Tex Product, V Levintus Product, Mama Africa Product, Hightex Product, UE Product, S-U Velt Product, and Jisiki Product.
Investigations showed the products were imported, marketed, and warehoused across several locations in Kano, including Gandun Abada Layout, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, BUA Rice Mills Street, Ajasa Inuwa Wada Road, and Gandun Albasa New Layout.
Speaking on the enforcement, FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Tunji Bello, reaffirmed the Commission’s zero tolerance for exploitative practices and market manipulation.
“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 warned.
He assured that the Commission will continue to deploy lawful measures to curb such practices nationwide and reminded retailers, distributors, and suppliers of their legal obligation to ensure goods match declared descriptions and standards.
Bello also commended the FCCPC enforcement team led by Mrs. Adeyinka and thanked security agencies for their cooperation in the successful operation.
