FCCPC launches taskforce to tackle fake, unsafe products in Abuja markets

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Wednesday inaugurated a Joint Market Monitoring Taskforce (JMMT) to rid Nigerian markets of counterfeit and unsafe products, starting with four key markets in the Federal Capital Territory.

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The move is part of the commission’s efforts to improve product safety, protect consumers, and ensure fair competition. It brings together regulatory officials and market union leaders to identify and remove harmful or substandard goods from circulation.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, represented by the Director of Surveillance and Investigations, Boladale Adeyinka, said the taskforce would support enforcement by working closely with traders.

“It’s no news that our markets are flooded with fake, counterfeit and substandard consumer products that are not-fit for intended purposes or clearly unsafe or injurious to consumer welfare. At a time when both consumers and businesses are experiencing economic challenges, getting value for money expended on products has becomes very imperative,” she said.

She added that the initiative aligns with the FCCPC’s legal mandate to eliminate hazardous products and deceptive or anti-competitive practices that harm consumers or distort market fairness.

Citing Section 17 (m) (1) (g) (p) (r) (s) (t) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), she said it empowers the commission to remove hazardous products from the market and to tackle deceptive, unfair, or anti-competitive practices that undermine consumer welfare or restrict market competition.

The first phase of the taskforce will cover Wuse Market, Utako Market, Garki International Market, and Garki Modern Market. Terms of reference have been shared with members, who have pledged their cooperation.

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“There are many players and stakeholders in our marketplaces,” Mrs Adeyinka said. “The regulators as well as the market union leaders need to come together as a team to make our market work for all.”

The FCCPC also urged the public to submit reports or alerts of any violations via its complaint portal, hotlines or social media handles.

READ ALSO: FCCPC launches committee to develop portal targeting counterfeit goods

The launch of the taskforce follows a related move by the commission on 5 June, when it inaugurated a multi-agency committee to develop a digital traceability platform. The system, once operational, will assign QR codes to products to allow consumers, regulators and businesses to verify authenticity and trace goods across the supply chain.

That platform, according to the FCCPC, is intended to tackle the widespread presence of fake goods in sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals to electrical components. It forms part of the commission’s broader strategy to improve product integrity and rebuild confidence in Nigerian markets.

With inflation biting and consumer spending under pressure, the FCCPC said it remains focused on ensuring Nigerians get value for money and are protected from harmful market practices.