FCCPC Shuts Down Five Kano Textile Warehouses over Deceptive Trade Practices

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed the warehouses of five major textile distributors in Kano over alleged deceptive trade practices involving the sale of underweight and shortened fabrics to unsuspecting consumers.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Ondaje Ijagwu, Director, Corporate Affairs, FCCPC, says the enforcement operation, led by the Commission’s Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Boladale Adeyinka, followed weeks of covert monitoring across major textile markets in Kano.

The surveillance revealed that several distributors were selling fabric materials significantly below the standard lengths indicated on their labels while charging buyers full prices.

The Commission described the practice as a clear violation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018, particularly Sections 123(1) and 125(1), which prohibit false, misleading, or deceptive representations about the quantity, quality, or price of goods.

The affected textile brands include LGR Product, U&Me Product, Nana Tex Product, V Levintus Product, Mama Africa Product, Hightex Product, UE Product, S-U Velt Product, and Jisiki Product.

The products were reportedly imported, marketed, and distributed from various locations in Kano, including Nos. 238, 249, 313, 315, 413, and 428 Gandun Abada Layout; Nos. 38 & 40 Ibrahim Taiwo Road; No. 87 Bua Rice Mills Street; Links I, II & III Ajasa Inuwa Wada Road; and No. 287 Gandun Albasa New Layout.

Speaking on the enforcement, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to protecting consumers and ensuring 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,” Bello stated.

He emphasized that the Commission would continue to deploy all lawful means to curb exploitative and anti-competitive conduct across Nigerian markets.

Bello commended the diligence of the FCCPC enforcement team led by Adeyinka and expressed appreciation to the security agencies for their collaboration in the successful operation.

The Commission reminded all retailers, distributors, and suppliers of their legal obligation to ensure that products offered to consumers conform to declared standards, descriptions, and measurements.