The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has revealed plans to engage market leaders and other stakeholders in the supply and distribution chain to address unfair pricing practices amidst rising inflation.
In a statement by the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello on Monday, August 12, the commission claimed to have observed that prices are often too high for imported products and even higher for those made locally.
The statement reads in parts: “In the coming days, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) will be engaging leaders of markets and others in the supply and distribution chain across the nation as part of a broader initiative to check exploitative pricing of consumer goods.
While it is recognized that the exchange rate has impacted the value of the Naira, it is however observed that prices charged are, in most cases, disproportionate for imported products and excessive for locally produced ones. This unfair practice is prevalent in the retail segment of the distribution chain where some market associations are engaged in price fixing at the expense of consumers.
Working with the market leaders, the Commission believes an understanding can be reached on reasonable pricing of products with a view to eschewing undue profiteering at the expense of consumers at a time of economic challenges. “Such interaction will be sustained by the Commission to foster a better market culture that makes allowance for the trader’s margin without leaving buyers exploited.”
The statement also reiterated that the Commission’s advocacy for Nigerian consumers in this direction is consistent with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu adding that the it already has mandated the operators of supermarkets to visibly display the prices of products displayed on their shelves to shoppers for transparency and avoid an ambush situation where they only get to know of the prices after payment would have been made at the counter and receipt issued.
