The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has taken a strong stance against alleged consumer rights violations, sealing off the head office of Sahad Supermarket/Stores in Abuja. This action, led by Acting Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, follows investigations into reports of customer extortion and non-transparent pricing practices at the chain.
The FCCPC’s move sends a clear message to businesses operating in Nigeria. Dr. Abdullahi emphasized that such practices are considered “unacceptable” and constitute a breach of consumer rights under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA). Specifically, he cited Section 155(3) of the act, which outlines potential penalties for offending companies, including hefty fines exceeding N100 million.
“What we have found out that they are doing is misleading pricing and lack of transparency in their pricing which is against section 155 (3) of the FCCPAct. It is an obnoxious practice and amounts to violation of rights under the FCCPA,” Dr. Abdullahi asserted.
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Despite being given the opportunity to defend themselves, Sahad Supermarket representatives failed to appear, only sending a lawyer unfamiliar with the case. As a result, the FCCPC was compelled to take action, sealing off the premises until compliance with regulatory provisions is ensured.
Mrs. Boladale Adeyinka, Director of the Surveillance and Investigations Department of FCCPC, highlighted discrepancies between price tags on products displayed and those recorded at pay point computers within the supermarket. She pointed out that even identical products from the same brand were being sold at varying prices, potentially resulting in customers being short-changed.
“The same products, the same brand has different prices. One is N5,000 while one is N6,000. Imagine if you buy 10 pairs, that means you have been short-changed by N10,000,” Mrs. Adeyinka emphasized, underscoring the importance of fair pricing practices.
