The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has blocked multiple warehouses and retail shops in Kano State after receiving verified intelligence reports of deceptive trade practices involving the sale of undersized fabric materials to customers. Boladale Adeyinka, the FCCPC's director of surveillance and investigations, explained that the operation was part of the Commission's larger effort to enforce compliance with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, protect consumer rights, and ensure fair competition in Nigeria's marketplace.
According to Adeyinka, the enforcement action came after weeks of discreet surveillance and intelligence gathering, which revealed that some retailers and distributors were intentionally selling fabrics significantly shorter than the measurements indicated on their labels while charging customers full price.
Adeyinka referenced FCCPA Sections 123(1) and 125(1), which prohibit false representations about the amount, quality, or standard of goods provided to consumers. She underlined that such behavior distorts market fairness, exploits consumers, and undermines respectable enterprises that follow ethical norms.
The FCCPC sealed multiple warehouses and confiscated fabric samples for measurement verification and further investigation, in accordance with Sections 27 and 28 of the FCCPA, which authorize the Commission to enter, inspect, and seize products or documents related to suspected infractions.
The Commission identified various warehouses and brands under examination, including LGR Products, UME Products, NANATEX Products, VLEVENTIS Products, MAMA AFRICA Products, ITEX Products, UE Products, SUVELT Products, and JISIKI Products.
The warehouses are in Gandu Albasa Layout (Nos. 238, 249, 313, 315, 413, and 428), 38 and 40 Ibrahim Taiwo Road, 87 Boar Rice Mill Street, Ajasa Inwua Wada Road, and 287 Gandu Albasa New Layout, all in Kano.
Adeyinka said that four of the warehouses surveyed were "filled to the brim" with thousands of fabric bundles, and that the business scale was massive, with billions of naira allegedly exchanged weekly through these misleading transactions.
The Director described the practice as "obnoxious and exploitative," pointing out that millions of Nigerian consumers had been inadvertently misled. Many of the complaints received by the Commission arose from conflicts between tailors and customers concerning fabric shortages after purchase, which were frequently misattributed to the tailors themselves.
Adeyinka stated that violators would be prosecuted under the FCCPA. Individuals who violate consumer rights under Section 155 face up to five years in prison, a ₦10 million fine, or both. Corporate bodies face penalties of up to ₦100 million or 10% of their yearly revenue, whichever is larger. Directors of such companies may be personally accountable.
The FCCPC highlighted that these enforcement measures are designed to dissuade others from engaging in similar conduct. The Commission will continue to conduct surveillance operations in Kano and other regions of the country to identify and sanction violators.
The FCCPC also asked customers to remain watchful and report any suspected examples of deceptive commercial practices using its established complaint channels.
