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From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed several textile warehouses in Kano State for allegedly engaging in deceptive sales of underweight and shortened fabric materials worth billions of naira.
The enforcement operation, carried out on Wednesday in the Sharada industrial area and other parts of the metropolis, followed weeks of discreet surveillance and intelligence gathering. Investigators discovered that several retailers were selling fabric lengths far shorter than advertised while charging unsuspecting customers full prices.
Speaking after the exercise, FCCPC’s Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Boladale Adeyinka, said the conduct violates consumer protection laws under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
“Such conduct constitutes a clear violation of consumer rights under the provisions of the FCCPA. No retailer, trader, or supplier is allowed to make false, misleading, or deceptive representations about the quantity or price of goods sold”, she said.
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Adeyinka expressed concern that such fraudulent practices not only exploit consumers but also distort market integrity and undermine fair competition.
“By undermining honest traders and businesses that comply with lawful standards, these acts can drive legitimate retailers out of the market, reduce consumer choice, and entrench anti-competitive behaviour,” she explained.
She emphasised that selling shortened or underweight materials amounts to deceptive representation and breaches consumers’ rights to fair, honest, and equitable dealings as guaranteed under Sections 120 and 124(1) of the FCCPA.
Adeyinka assured that the Commission would continue to deploy lawful enforcement tools to curb exploitative market practices nationwide. She also urged consumers to remain vigilant, insist on their rights, and promptly report suspicious trade activities through the FCCPC’s official complaint channels.
