For April 2025, operatives of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) raid several rice stores inside Utako Market, Abuja, as the commission move against alleged unfair pricing and deceptive packaging, according to Vanguard.
Di enforcement operation, wey FCCPC Director of Surveillance and Investigations, Mrs Boladale Adeyinka, lead, result in the sealing of ten shops. Dem suspect say the shops belong to one cartel wey dey repackage local rice and sell am as imported brands.
Adeyinka explain say the raid follow credible intelligence from brand owners and concerned consumers. According to her, local rice dey sold under the guise of foreign brands wey don leave Nigeria market. She give example say Royal Stallion exited Nigeria over ten years ago.
She talk say demand for foreign rice still strong among some Nigerian consumers even though the rice no dey plenty for market. Adeyinka say this demand create chance for unscrupulous traders to exploit buyers. She describe the practice as exploitative, and say e infringe on consumer rights and undermine economic integrity.
Di FCCPC director also repeat the commission commitment to protect consumers by making sure pricing dey fair and goods wey dem sell inside market get integrity.
