FCCPC Reads Riot Act To Manufacturers, Others On Products Safety

To build consumers, confidence in market places, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, wants manufacturers, distributors and importers to always adhere to the rules of safety and standards of products while carrying out their business engagements.

The Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello made the call in Abuja during this year’s World Consumer Rights Day and the 9th National Consumers Contest Awards with the theme “Safe Products, Confident Consumers”.

Mr Tunji Bello who was represented by the Director, Surveillance and Investigations in FCCPC, Mrs Boladale Adeyinka expressed concern over inefficiency and lack of trust in today’s market places stating that the Commission is ready to change the narrative in the interest of Nigerian consumers.

While reiterating FCCPC continuous collaboration with necessary Agencies and stakeholders in building consumer’s confidence, Mr Tunji Bello said the Commission would not hesitate to sanction any organization or individual that breached FCCPC’s rules on products safety and standards.

The Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC explained that product safety aligns with ongoing economic reform of President Bola Tinubu’s led administration which focuses on strengthening market integrity, improving consumer confidence and promoting a rules based business environment.

Mr Tunji Bello added that the National Consumers Contest was introduced to further create more awareness on the rights and protection of Nigerian consumers.

“We are gathered at a time when product safety has become central to market integrity, consumer confidence, and public welfare and the theme for this year’s celebration, Safe Products, Confident Consumers, captures a simple but important truth: where safety is uncertain, confidence declines. And where confidence declines, markets become weaker, less efficient, and less trustworthy” He stated.

According to him, across several sectors, the Commission continues to encounter products that do not meet basic safety and quality standards. These include improperly labelled goods, products that fall short of essential safety requirements, and in some cases, conduct that raises concerns about misrepresentation and some of these failures arise from weak internal controls. Others reflect gaps in compliance culture.

“In certain instances, there are indications of deliberate disregard for legal and regulatory obligations. The effect is immediate and serious. Consumers are exposed to avoidable risks, trust in the market is weakened, and law-abiding businesses are placed at a disadvantage.
Product safety, therefore, cannot be treated as a secondary matter. It is a core obligation, with clear public interest consequences” Mr Bello explained

In.his words ” This approach aligns with the Federal Government’s ongoing economic reform programme under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which focuses on strengthening market integrity, improving consumer confidence, and promoting a rules-based business environment”.

Mathew Ayoola, Edited By Grace Namiji