The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Wednesday inaugurated a Joint Market Monitoring Taskforce (JMMT), whose terms of reference include sealing shops, warehouses, or any outlets in parts of Abuja containing products that are unsafe for consumption or substandard goods.
The inauguration of the JMMT first phase (Flag-off) took place at the FCCPC Headquarters and was attended by Naijaonpoint.
The JMMT includes FCCPC officials and representatives from four markets within the FCT: Wuse Market, Utako Market, Garki International Market, and Garki Modern Market.
Speaking at the flag-off event, the Director of the Surveillance and Investigation Department at FCCPC, Mrs. Boladale Adeyinka, explained that the development underscores FCCPC’s commitment and resolve to protect Nigerian consumers from harmful and unsafe products, as well as to promote business competitiveness in the Nigerian market.
“It’s no news that our markets are flooded with fake, counterfeit, and substandard consumer products that are not fit for their intended purposes or are clearly unsafe or injurious to consumer welfare.
“At a time when both consumers and businesses are experiencing economic challenges, getting value for money spent on products has become very imperative,” she added.
“Effective market monitoring operations require all hands to be on deck. That is, the regulators as well as the market executives or market union leaders need to come together as a team to make our markets work for all,” she said.
Speaking further, the official highlighted that a “Terms of Reference” document to guide the operations of the JMMT has been discussed and communicated to its members.
The terms of reference read out to stakeholders and the press expect the taskforce to do the following in the FCT:
Members of the Market Association on the JMMT or their authorized representatives were advised to always be available to provide necessary assistance to the FCCPC and to facilitate seamless market monitoring operations within the market.
Adeyinka solicited the cooperation of the general public in providing credible information, intelligence, or alerts on any violations of consumer protection laws or enactments in Nigeria via email, hotlines, complaint portal, or any of the FCCPC social media handles.
Responding to the FCCPC, the Head of Monitoring at Abuja Market Management Ltd, Musa Shelleng, asked for further sensitization on the development, adding that “It is not every trader that wants to cut corners.”
Subsequently, she inaugurated the first set of JMMT covering four markets within the FCT.
She highlighted that joint market monitoring operations will be established in all markets across the nation.
Recall that officials of the FCCPC had on April 15, 2025, raided Utako Market in Abuja, sealing several shops over the alleged buying and selling of local rice re-bagged as foreign brands by market cartels.
The operation was carried out with the support of police officers and other security operatives and was monitored by Naijaonpoint.
The operation was carried out with the support of police officers and other security operatives and was monitored by Naijaonpoint.
Naijaonpoint reports that the FCCPC officials targeted shop owners selling rice brands like Royal Stallion and Mama Gold, asserting that intelligence gathered indicated these companies had ceased importing their rice brands into Nigeria as far back as 2015.