The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed some retail outlets and warehouses in Kano for allegedly engaging in deceptive trade practices involving the sale of under-measured fabric materials.

The commission’s director of surveillance and investigations, Bolade Adeyinka, who led the enforcement team, on Wednesday, disclosed this during the operation carried out in some parts of the state.

Some areas visited during the operations include Sharada, Gandun Albasa, and Ibrahim Taiwo Road, among others.

Ms Adeyinka said the operations followed verified intelligence and weeks of discreet market surveillance, which revealed that several retailers were selling fabrics below the stated measurements while charging full prices.

“Today’s exercise targets businesses involved in deceptive practices, especially the sale of underweight or shortened fabric materials to unsuspecting consumers,” Ms Adeyinka said.

She explained that the commission discovered that fabrics labelled as 10 yards, were actually nine yards, while others marked as five yards measured less than four and a half yards.

According to her, such practices contravene Sections 123 and 125 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which prohibit false, misleading or deceptive representations of goods and services.

Ms Adeyinka added that Sections 27 and 28 of the Act empower the commission to enter and search premises, as well as seize materials and documents relevant to ongoing investigations.

She said the Executive Vice-Chairman of FCCPC, Tunji Bello, had directed that the affected premises be sealed for further investigations, while samples of the implicated fabrics were seized for measurement and quality verification.

“The sale of under-measured materials constitutes deceptive misrepresentation and violates consumers’ rights to fair, honest and equitable dealings as provided under Sections 120 and 124 of the Act,” she said.

The director stated that these practices exploit consumers and undermine fair market competition by putting honest traders who follow the law at a disadvantage.

She urged consumers to remain vigilant, insist on their rights, and report any suspected cases of deceptive trade practices through the FCCPC’s official complaint channels. 

(NAN)