The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has raised a Joint Market Monitoring Taskforce (JMMT) to enforce compliance with standards and pricing in markets.
Inaugurating the task force in Abuja, yesterday, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Tunji Bello, said the effort underscores FCCPC’s commitment and resolve to protect Nigerian consumers from harmful and unsafe products as well as promote business competitiveness in the Nigerian market.
Bello, who was represented by the Director of Surveillance and Investigations of the commission, Boladale Adeyinka, lamented the proliferation, counterfeit and substandard products that are unsafe for human consumption.
“It is no news that our markets are flooded with fake, counterfeit and substandard consumer products that are not fit for intended purposes or unsafe or injurious to consumer welfare. At a time when both consumers and businesses are experiencing economic challenges, getting value for money expended on products has become very imperative,” he added.
Justifying the need to rid markets of substandard products, Bello explained that Section 17 of the FCCPA mandates the Commission to seek ways and means of removing hazardous and unsafe products from the markets, eliminating obnoxious and unscrupulous business as well as marketing practices that are deceptive unfair and misleading.
He argued that the Commission, in delivering its mandate, prioritises cooperation and collaboration with key stakeholders for greater success.
Bello noted that there are many players and stakeholders in the marketplaces.
Bello maintained that effective market monitoring operations require the relevant stakeholders including regulators as well as the market executives or market union leaders to come together as a team to make the markets clean and functional.
The Commission inaugurated four sets of JMMT, which covers four markets within Abuja. Markets covered are Wuse, Utako, Garki International Market and Garki Modern Market.
It also flagged off phase one of the joint marketing monitoring operations, which will be established in all markets nationwide.
Bello disclosed that the terms of reference to guide the operations of JMMT have been discussed and communicated to members of the JMMT, who have also made commitments to support the Commission’s effort.
“We solicit the cooperation of the general public in providing credible information or intelligence or alert on any violations of any consumer protection laws or enactment in Nigeria via our email, hotlines, complaint portal or any of our social media handles,” he said.
