Business and Economy
FCCPC Seals Five Kano Textile Warehouses Over Deceptive Sales Practices
By our Correspondent
In a major enforcement operation in Kano, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed the warehouses of five textile distributors found guilty of engaging in unethical business practices.
The affected distributors were involved in the deceptive sale of underweight and shortened fabric materials to unsuspecting consumers, in clear violation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
The enforcement exercise was led by the Commission’s Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Mrs. Boladale Adeyinka.
According to FCCPC, the action followed several weeks of surveillance across Kano markets, which revealed the widespread sale of fabric materials that fell significantly short of the standard measurements indicated by retailers, even as consumers were charged the full price.
Section 123(1) of the FCCPA prohibits retailers, traders, or suppliers from making false, misleading, or deceptive representations to consumers in respect of quantity, price, or other product attributes. Likewise, Section 125(1) forbids any undertaking from directly or indirectly engaging in misleading conduct concerning a material fact to consumers or prospective consumers.
The textile products implicated in the malpractice 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 revealed that these products were imported, marketed, distributed, and warehoused at several locations across Kano city, including Nos. 238, 249, 313, 315, 413, and 428 Gandun Abada Layout; Nos. 38 & 40 Ibrahim Taiwo Road; No. 87 Bua Rice Mills Street; Links I, II & III Ajasa Inuwa Wada Road; and No. 287 Gandun Albasa New Layout.
Speaking on the development, the FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tunji Bello, reaffirmed the Commission’s zero tolerance for practices that exploit consumers, distort the market, or threaten fair competition.
“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 stated.
He assured Nigerians that the Commission will continue to deploy all lawful means to deter exploitative conduct in markets nationwide. Bello also reminded retailers, distributors, and suppliers of their legal obligation to ensure that goods conform to declared descriptions, measurements, and standards.
The FCCPC boss commended the diligence of the enforcement team led by Mrs. Adeyinka and expressed appreciation to security agencies for their cooperation during the operation.