By Milcah Tanimu
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has strongly criticized the significant surge in the price of sachet water, labeling it as unacceptable.
Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, the Acting Executive Vice-Chairman of FCCPC, made this assertion during an event commemorating the 2024 World Consumer Rights Day in Abuja on Friday, under the theme “Fair and Responsible Al for Consumers.”
Abdullahi emphasized that the exorbitant rise in sachet water prices by various associations is unjustifiable and unfair to consumers. He argued that despite increases in factors like power, fuel, and the price of nylon, the astronomical hike in sachet water prices cannot be justified.
The FCCPC official highlighted the emergence of associations among product producers, including sachet water producers, which often lead to cartel-like behavior. He condemned such cartels, stating that price fixing goes against FCCPC regulations and is unacceptable.
Abdullahi stressed the commission’s commitment to addressing the issue by identifying and dismantling these cartels, but emphasized that consumer complaints are crucial in this process.
While FCCPC isn’t a price control agency, Abdullahi asserted that the commission is deeply committed to addressing the rapid rise in food prices, attributing the surge to various factors including market cartels, price fixing, hoarding, and lack of pricing transparency. He reiterated FCCPC’s active role in combating these challenges to ensure fair pricing and protect consumer interests.
Regarding recent incidents of consumers’ extortion and deceptive pricing, which led to the sealing of the headquarters of a popular supermarket in Abuja by the commission, Abdullahi stated that the supermarket has largely complied with FCCPC guidelines. He assured ongoing monitoring of supermarkets to ensure effective consumer protection.
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