*** Locally produced rice re-bagged as imported brands, says Commission
In a major clampdown on food fraud, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Tuesday sealed five wholesale shops in Utako Market, Abuja, for allegedly re-bagging and selling locally produced rice as imported brands such as Royal Stallion and Mama Gold.
The enforcement exercise, led by Mrs. Boladale Adeyinka, Director of Surveillance and Investigations at the FCCPC, followed credible intelligence gathered by the Commission. The operation was carried out in collaboration with officers of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.
“Our investigation revealed that locally milled rice is being deceitfully packaged in bags of well-known foreign brands, which are no longer officially imported into Nigeria,” Adeyinka said during the raid. “This practice is not only deceptive but exploitative, as traders are taking advantage of consumers’ preference for foreign brands to hike prices.”
According to her, brands like Mama Gold ceased export activities as far back as 2015. “Yet, in 2025, these bags are still flooding our markets. The traders admit to knowing these products are no longer imported, yet they continue to sell them,” she said.
The Commission has confiscated the offending products and invited the shop owners for further investigation. Administrative penalties and fines are expected to be applied in accordance with the FCCPC Act.
Adeyinka urged consumers to verify the source of rice they purchase, especially when seeking foreign brands, and to patronize only recognized importers and distributors to avoid deception.
Some traders affected by the raid claimed ignorance. Mr. Emmanuel Nneji, one of the shop owners, said he was unaware that Stallion had discontinued production and that he sourced his goods from Kaduna and Kano. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have bought the product. I don’t want to suffer losses,” he said.
Another trader, who declined to be named, admitted the rice was re-bagged but said he sold it at a cheaper price of N18,000 for a 10kg bag—much lower than the N25,000 to N28,000 typically charged for authentic imported rice.
Mr. Alex Igwemma, Secretary of the Utako Market Traders Association, criticised the Commission’s unannounced visit but acknowledged that traders should have known the brands were no longer available. He urged members to ensure the authenticity of goods sold to consumers.
The FCCPC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting consumers from unfair trade practices and warned that more enforcement actions would follow in other markets across the country.
