By Admin
Mushin, Lagos – A team of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) officials, accompanied by armed police and journalists, was met with resistance from traders at the Daleko market in Mushin, Lagos.
The FCCPC team aimed to crack down on traders allegedly re-bagging rice in different brand names and reproducing rice bags from companies which have left Nigeria since 2015, including Stallion and Cap rice.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) alleged that rice bagged in the names of Stallion and Cap rice companies, which have reportedly left Nigeria, are still being sold in the country.
According to the FCCPC, its surveillance efforts have revealed this deceptive practice is potentially misleading consumers and violating consumer protection law.
Despite evidence of alleged offenses , traders at Daleko market refused to cooperate with FCCPC officials, citing lack of notification to the market leader, “Iyaloja”.
The resistance highlighted tensions between regulatory agencies and market stakeholders.
Although the traders resisted enforcement, the FCCPC team successfully sealed a shop involved in reproducing rice bags from different companies as bundles of these bags were fully displayed.
FCCPC’s Lagos South West Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Margret Aboluwade, expressed disappointment at the extent of illegal activities at the market and vowed that the law would take its course.
“Traders resisted us from carrying out our constitutional responsibility. We’ll get to our headquarters, and the needful will be done.
“We will not say what will happen now, but I know that the needful will be done. Also, some of them alleged that they’re not the only ones selling rebranded Stallion and Cap rice products. But we are only able to seal the shop that is open as others are locked and we don’t know what is inside the locked up shops.
“As we all know, these companies have folded up and left the country since 2015, and we still see their rice products in the market to date.
Mrs. Aboluwade emphasized the commission’s commitment to protecting consumer rights, pointing out that “FCCPC will continue to perform its duties, ensuring compliance with consumer protection laws.
The incident underscores the need for cooperation between regulatory agencies and market stakeholders to protect consumers from unfair practices as the alleged sale of rice bagged in the names of companies no longer operating in Nigeria raises concerns about consumer protection and the need for transparency in labeling and marketing practices.
