By Adedapo Adesanya

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has tasked manufacturers, importers and service providers to prioritise product safety, warning that substandard goods threaten consumer trust and weaken Nigeria’s market system.

The commission issued the warning on Wednesday in Abuja on the back of the 2026 World Consumer Rights Day celebration and the 9th National Consumers Contest Awards, where regulators, industry stakeholders and consumer advocates gathered to review the state of consumer protection in the country.

The chief executive of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, said this year’s theme, Safe Products, Confident Consumers, highlights the direct connection between product safety and economic stability, adding that, “Where safety is uncertain, confidence declines. And where confidence declines, markets become weaker, less efficient, and less trustworthy.”

He expressed concern over persistent violations across sectors, noting that many products still fail to meet basic safety and quality benchmarks.

According to him, infractions include mislabelled goods, products that do not comply with minimum safety standards and, in some cases, deliberate disregard for regulatory requirements.

Mr Bello warned that such practices expose consumers to avoidable risks while creating unfair competition for businesses that comply with established rules.

Linking consumer protection to the federal government’s ongoing economic reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bello said strengthening regulatory compliance is essential to building transparent, investment-friendly markets.

“Consumer protection is a key part of that effort. Safe, reliable, and transparent markets support sustainable growth,” he said.

He reiterated that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (2018) guarantees consumers the right to safe, durable and fit-for-purpose products, stressing that businesses must promptly address safety concerns through product recalls, withdrawals and proper consumer notification.

The FCCPC boss warned that failure to comply, he warned, attracts regulatory sanctions.

Mr Bello disclosed that the FCCPC has expanded market surveillance operations, enhanced product testing capacity and intensified enforcement actions in priority sectors. He added that the Commission is strengthening collaboration with regulatory partners, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to close enforcement gaps that allow unsafe products into the market.

Beyond enforcement measures, the FCCPC boss underscored the importance of consumer education, highlighting the role of the National Young Consumers Contest in promoting awareness and responsible purchasing behaviour among young Nigerians.

“Consumer protection is not only about enforcement. It is also about education, awareness, critical thinking, and responsible engagement,” Mr Bello said.

While clarifying that the FCCPC does not fix prices, he noted that transparency, fairness and adherence to safety standards remain fundamental to efficient market operations. He urged consumers to remain vigilant by examining products carefully and reporting unsafe or substandard goods.

The event drew participation from regulatory agencies, trade associations and media organisations, reinforcing calls for coordinated action to strengthen accountability across Nigeria’s marketplace.

“Safe and reliable markets depend on responsible business conduct, effective regulation, and informed consumer participation. That standard must be upheld consistently,” Mr Bello said.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the final forfeiture of $13 million linked to a Lagos socialite, Ms Aisha Achimugu, and her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited, to the federal government of Nigeria.

Delivering judgment, Justice Nwite held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) established that the foreign currency was proceeds of fraud and unlawful activities.

The judge further held that Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited failed to establish how it came by the money, saying the anti-money laundering agency satisfied all requirements for the funds to be classified as proceeds of fraud and to be forfeited to the appropriate authority.

He dismissed the claims that the $13 million was gifts received into the Oceangate Engineering Company by Ms Achimugu, adding that the woman never came to the court to show cause why the huge amount of money should not be forfeited to the government.

He held that no single person who gave the monetary gift to Aisha Achimugu to the tune of $13 million was called to testify.

The judge further held that the burden to establish genuine ownership of the money was not established by the applicant to counter the claims of the anti- graft agency that the money was the proceeds of fraud based on its investigation.

According to the judge, Oceangate Engineering Company did not show the business it undertook that fetched it the money, nor did it show whether any payment was made to it by any of its customers.

Justice Nwite had, on August 22, 2025, granted the anti-graft agency’s motion ex parte for an interim order forfeiting the sum of $13 million linked to Oceangate Ltd to the Federal Government over allegations that the fund was proceeds of unlawful activity.

The judge had then directed the commission to publish the order in a national daily for interested people to show cause within 14 days why the fund should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has inaugurated a 17-member Planning Committee to coordinate the National Flag-Off of the Energise Commercialisation Now (ECoN) Initiative, a flagship programme aimed at transforming research outputs into economic value.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Philip Ndiomu Ebiogeh, described the initiative as a strategic intervention to convert Nigeria’s vast research and innovation outputs into market-ready products, scalable enterprises, and job-creating opportunities.

He noted that ECoN will mobilise stakeholders nationwide to identify bankable innovations and accelerate their transition from laboratories to the marketplace, stressing that the country must move beyond theoretical research to practical solutions that drive industrial growth and national prosperity.

The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, had earlier briefed the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, on the initiative and proposed her as a champion of the programme, with the national flag-off scheduled for Kano State.

He explained that Kano was deliberately selected due to its historic role as a commercial and industrial hub, offering strong potential to attract investment, stimulate enterprise, and create jobs.

The Committee is chaired by the Minister, with the Permanent Secretary as Co-Chairman, while the Director-General, National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency, NBRDA, and the Director-General, Sheda Science and Technology Complex, SHESTCO, serve as Alternate Chairmen.

Members include Professor Nnayelugo Ike-Muonso, Dr Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Dr Jummai Adamu, Dr (Mrs) Obiageli Amadiobi, Dr Kabiru Mu’azu, Dr Anwal Mustapha, Engr Ibiam Oguejiofo, Mr Moses Fatogun, Mr Adamu Sulaiman (a representative of SMEDAN), Dr Prince Lawrence Eze, Mr Sani Garba, Dr Muhammad Mustapha, Dr Chioma Okeke, Mr Luther Onyemkpa, Mr Charles Egumgbe, and Dr Nwankwo Nnenna serving as Secretary.

The national flag-off is proposed for late April or early May 2026, subject to Presidential approval.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to positioning innovation as a key driver of economic diversification and sustainable development, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.