The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has stated that it confiscated 97 bags of substandard rice duration a raid on an Abuja super market.
The FCCPC further said during the raid it was found that there were discrepancies between price displayed and checkout prices, and that the super market was selling weevil-infested rice.
Daily Intel Newspaper reported that following the rebound of the naira against the dollar without a corresponding decrease in price of food and other commodities, the commission had warned it would no longer tolerate arbitrary hike, urging members of the public to report business owner found doing so.
In a statement on x on Thursday, the Commission’s acting Executive Vice Chairman, Adamu Abdullahi, stated that similar exercises will be conducted in both formal and informal markets across Nigeria to eliminate unfair trade practices such as collusion, price gouging, price fixing, and the formation of cartels.
The statement reads:”In its commitment to address rising prices and protect consumers, the FCCPC, earlier today, conducted targeted enforcement operations at two branches of 4U Supermarket in Abuja. Discoveries made during the operation included discrepancies between displayed and checkout prices, as well as the sale of weevil-infested rice.
“Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, the acting Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC, stated that similar exercises will be conducted in both formal and informal markets across Nigeria to eliminate unfair trade practices such as collusion, price gouging, price fixing, and the formation of cartels.
“The Commission temporarily sealed and reopened the supermarket after evacuating 97 bags of substandard rice, mainly Royal Stallion and Caprice brands, which have not been produced in the country since 2018. This raises suspicions that the products were repackaged to deceive consumers.
“The management of the supermarket will be required to sign undertakings of compliance.”
