The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Wednesday sealed five textile warehouses in Kano for allegedly selling underweight and shortened fabric materials to consumers.
The operation, led by the Commission’s Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Boladale Adeyinka, followed weeks of surveillance across markets in the state.
In a statement by its director of corporate affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC said it found that distributors were supplying fabrics below the standard measurement indicated while charging full price.
The move, the agency said, contravenes Sections 123(1) and 125(1) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (2018), which prohibit false, misleading or deceptive representation regarding the quantity or pricing of goods.
Products affected include LGR, U&Me, Nana Tex, V Levintus, Mama Africa, Hightex, UE, S-U Velt and Jisiki. The Commission also disclosed that the warehouses were located at multiple addresses in Gandun Abada Layout, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Bua Rice Mills Street, Ajasa Inuwa Wada Road and Gandun Albasa New Layout in Kano.
FCCPC Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, said the action underscores the Commission’s zero-tolerance stance against exploitation of consumers and practices that undermine fair competition.
“By undermining honest traders and businesses that comply with lawful standards, this nefarious practice of selling underweight products can drive legitimate retailers out of the market, thereby reducing consumer choice and entrenching anti-competitive behaviour,” he said.
Bello added that the Commission would intensify enforcement to deter similar practices nationwide and urged retailers and distributors to provide goods that meet declared specifications.