In a major enforcement operation in Kano, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed the warehouses of five major textile distributors over deceptive sales practices targeted at unsuspecting consumers.
According to Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs at the FCCPC, the sanctioned distributors shortened and under-measured fabric materials but sold them at full price — a direct violation of consumer protection laws.
Weeks of Surveillance Led to the Crackdown
The enforcement, spearheaded by the Commission’s Director of Surveillance & Investigation, Mrs. Boladale Adeyinka, followed weeks of intelligence gathering across Kano markets.
Ijagwu explained “Today’s action is the culmination of weeks-long surveillance around Kano markets by FCCPC. We established widespread sales of fabric materials significantly below the stated length or measurement while consumers paid full value.”
Clear Breach of Consumer Protection Laws
The FCCPC cited Sections 123(1) and 125(1) of the FCCPA (2018), which prohibit false, misleading, or deceptive business conduct — especially relating to quantity and pricing.
Goods involved in the sharp practices include popular textile products; LGR, U&Me, Nana Tex, V Levintus, Mama Africa, Hightex, UE, S-U Velt, and Jisiki.
Multiple warehouse locations were shut down across Kano city, including:
Gandun Abada Layout (Nos. 238, 249, 313, 315, 413 & 428)
Ibrahim Taiwo Road (Nos. 38 & 40)
87 Bua Rice Mills Street
Links I, II & III Ajasa Inuwa Wada Road
287 Gandun Albasa New Layout
FCCPC Will Not Tolerate Exploitation”
FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Mr. Tunji Bello, condemned the fraudulent practices, stressing that they undermine fair competition and legitimate traders.
“This nefarious practice can drive compliant retailers out of the market, reducing consumer choice and encouraging anti-competitive behavior,” Bello warned.
He assured Nigerians that the Commission will continue to deploy lawful measures to stamp out exploitation in all market environments.
Retailers Warned to Follow the Law
The FCCPC reminded suppliers nationwide of their statutory obligation to ensure all goods match declared standards and measurements.
Bello praised Mrs. Adeyinka’s enforcement team and thanked security agencies for their strong cooperation.
