The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has said electricity sector-related issues topped its list of consumer complaints over the past year, followed by aviation and banking-related grievances.

The acting executive vice chairman of the commission, Dr Adamu Abdullahi, disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Sunday. 

He stated that the commission received over 3,000 consumer complaints, with electricity complaints being the most prevalent.

Mr Abdullahi explained that interventions by FCCPC and the MacArthur Foundation contributed to a drop in the number of complaints. 

He mentioned that the foundation granted funds to intervene in the electricity sector, facilitating advocacy efforts to address consumer complaints. 

These interventions involved collaboration with sector regulators such as the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency and distribution companies (Discos), leading to complaint resolution directly in various states, including Bauchi, Edo, Jos, Ibadan, and Lagos states.

Additionally, Mr Abdullahi announced the FCCPC’s plans to initiate advocacy campaigns targeting market associations across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. 

This initiative aims to discourage cartels, price-fixing, and other anti-competitive practices prevalent in markets. 

The campaign will educate market association executives and members on the FCCPC Act’s provisions regarding joint price-fixing and its consequences.

The commission selected two supermarkets and two open markets in locations such as Osogbo, Awka, Port-Harcourt, Katsina, Minna, and Bauchi for the advocacy.  

Mr Abdullahi emphasised that while the initial phase would focus on advocacy, subsequent visits would involve enforcement actions against non-compliant entities. 

He urged the public to report any anti-competitive practices observed in markets, assuring swift and stringent penalties for offenders, including fines of up to 10 per cent of annual turnover for supermarkets and hefty fines for company directors found culpable.

(NAN)