June 11, 2025
To combat the proliferation of unsafe, counterfeit, and substandard products in Nigerian markets, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) officially inaugurated a Joint Market Monitoring Taskforce (JMMT) at a ceremony Wednesday.
According to the agency in a statement on Wednesday, the event marked the commencement of Phase 1 of the initiative, which will pilot in four key markets within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Wuse Market, Utako Market, Garki International Market, and Garki Modern Market.
Mrs. Boladale Adeyinka, Director of Surveillance and Investigation, presided over the inauguration on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Commission, Mr. Tunji Bello.
In his address delivered by Mrs. Adeyinka, the Executive vice Chairman reiterated the Commission’s unwavering resolve to safeguard Nigerian consumers from hazardous products, deceptive marketing, and exploitative practices.
“This event, again, underscores FCCPC’s commitment and resolve to protect Nigerian consumers from harmful and unsafe products and also to promote business competitiveness in the Nigerian market,” the EVC noted.
He further stated that “At a time when both consumers and businesses are experiencing economic challenges, getting value for money expended on products has become very imperative.”
The JMMT initiative is established under Sections 17(m), (l), (g), (p), (r), (s), and (t) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which empower the Commission to:
– Detect and remove hazardous or substandard products from the marketplace.
– Eliminate deceptive, misleading, and unethical marketing and trading practices.
– Prevent and penalise anti-competitive conduct that undermines fair market dynamics.
The JMMT brings together FCCPC officials and market union executives in a coordinated enforcement effort. Each selected market has nominated representatives who will work with Commission’s personnel to conduct product inspections, gather intelligence, and monitor marketplace compliance.
