FCCPC Seals Abuja Shops For Selling Local Rice Repackaged As Foreign

FCCPC Seals Abuja Shops For Selling Local Rice Repackaged As Foreign

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on Tuesday raided Utako Market in Abuja, sealing numerous stores over alleged misleading income of nearby rice re-bagged and offered as famous overseas manufacturers .

The operation, which turned into completed with the help of law enforcement officials and different protection personnel, centered buyers allegedly concerned in passing off domestically produced rice as imported types consisting of Royal Stallion and Mama Gold.

According to FCCPC officials, intelligence amassed indicated that those manufacturers have now no longer been imported into Nigeria considering the fact that 2015.

More than 5 big stores stocked with distinctive manufacturers of rice have been sealed at some point of the raid, with proprietors directed to file to the FCCPC headquarters for similarly investigation.

Speaking to the click at some point of the raid, Director of Surveillance and Investigation at FCCPC, Boladale Adeyinka found out that the fee obtained credible intelligence indicating a substantial fashion of rebranding nearby rice as overseas .

She defined that the exercise turned into exploitative and deceptive to purchasers who select imported rice.

“The fee has resolved to perform this ongoing operation to verify and validate reviews that nearby rice is being packaged as imported rice.
“That is exploitative. That is towards patron financial interests,” she said.

Adeyinka introduced that the rice baggage bore branding of corporations that had ceased exports to Nigeria almost a decade ago.

“They aren’t imported. They aren’t from Thailand. In fact, for Mama Gold, all exports ceased as a ways lower back as 2015.

“This is 2025, and but those manufacturers nonetheless flood the marketplace ,” she said.

She mentioned that the FCCPC might observe due manner to perceive the ones at the back of the fraudulent packaging and might confiscate the implicated merchandise .

Adeyinka warned that the fee might impose administrative consequences and fines on violators, including that refusal to cooperate with investigators should bring about prosecution.

She confident purchasers that the FCCPC will maintain its efforts to rid the marketplace of misleading practices and shield customers from exploitation.

“We will observe the path to perceive the ones generating and branding nearby rice with overseas labels.

“The logo proprietors have already publicly introduced they’re now no longer dispensing in Nigeria. However, because of logo recognition, those cartels maintain to make the most purchasers ,” she said.

Reacting to the development, Igwenma Alex, secretary of the Utako Market Shop Ownership/Traders Association, argued that buyers have been now no longer knowledgeable approximately the ban on overseas rice manufacturers .

“When some thing is banned, shouldn’t consciousness be created for Nigerians? Even whilst you ban some thing , it’s now no longer pretty much the buyers —you’re shielding the complete nation,” he said.

One trader, whose save turned into amongst the ones sealed, informed newshounds he turned into unaware the manufacturers were banned or have been now no longer imported.

He defined that he sourced his items from Kaduna and Kano and might now no longer have offered the rice if he had acknowledged it turned into counterfeit.

He said, “If I knew the ones merchandise have been banned or are now no longer withinside the marketplace , I might now no longer have offered it. I purchase my items from Kaduna avenue and Kano.”