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Decries misinterpretation of 2018 FCCP Act
By Chukwumah Umeroah
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights of consumers and ensuring fair business practices.
The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Tunji Bello, made the declaration at a one-day seminar to mark the 2025 World Consumer Day in Abuja yesterday.
He decried the misinterpretation of the 2018 Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) by some self-styled commentators, noting that the provisions of the FCCPA, upon which the Commission acts, were being misconstrued by some to project the agency in a bad light.
“It is very disturbing to hear or read parochial arguments of those who, out of ignorance of the law, seek to erect walls of sophistry against the FCCPC in its discharge of this clear mandate,” he said.
Bello defended that Sections 17 and 18 of the FCCPA 2018 expressly vest the Commission with the statutory authority “to regulate competition and consumer protection across all sectors in our national life, which is consistent with global best practices.”
This notion, he stated, “was, in fact, recently affirmed by a court of competent jurisdiction. In one word, the law charges the FCCPC to champion the rights of consumers of goods and services in Nigeria.”
Denying the suggestion that the FCCPC was a price control board, Bello contended that the agency only gets “involved when the rights of consumers are breached or when the market is being manipulated” in a manner that impedes fair competition.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let it be recognised that, in all of its actions, the Commission is guided by just one single commitment, and that is the pursuit of public interest. But we recognise we cannot further this advocacy alone. My clarion call today, therefore, is to all true patriots to join this crusade to protect consumers and make the market fair and safe in Nigeria,” Bello added.
In his keynote address entitled “A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles—The Baobab’s Promise,” Professor Joe Abugu (SAN) canvassed an approach that recognises that “sustainable lifestyles must be culturally appropriate rather than imposed through standardised global models.”
He anchored his submission on the metaphor of the baobab tree.
The panel of discussants included Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip, President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria; Professor Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor; and Temilade Oluwalana, a lawyer.
The seminar attracted a large number of participants from advocacy bodies, government agencies, and academia. Many joined virtually as well.
Another highlight of the event was the presentation of the star prize for the eighth edition of the National Young Consumer Contest (NYCC) to Miss Madiebo Ifunaya of the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Port Harcourt.
The second position went to Miss Michaela Chikamso of St. Bridget Girls Grammar School, Asaba, while the third position went to Miss Oluwajobi Ewaogooluwa of St. Theresa’s Catholic School, Bwari, Abuja.
More than 600 entries were received by the FCCPC for this year’s essay competition with the theme, “Is AI hurting or helping consumers?”