Our Mandate
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is the leading authority for competition and consumer protection in Nigeria. The Commission is empowered by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 (FCCPA) to, among other things, promote fair business practices and safeguard the interest of consumers.
In furtherance of its mandate, the Commission deploys several regulatory tools in key areas of its operations. These include:
Anticompetitive Practices
To combat anti-competitive practices, the Commission closely monitors business interactions among partners, wholesalers, and retailers. This oversight is geared towards promoting competition within the Nigerian economy while preventing any practices that could lead to the abuse of market dominance or monopolies, all for the benefit of consumers. In addition, it investigates anti-competitive practices, including price fixing, bid rigging, market allocation, and the abuse of dominant market positions, for possible legal actions against the involved parties.
Mergers and Acquisition
The Commission evaluates mergers and acquisitions in Nigeria to ensure that they do not significantly diminish competition in the relevant market. With the authority to approve, reject, or set conditions for such transactions, the Commission reviews and analyzes mergers and business combinations upon receiving notice, aiming to prevent market distortion or impediments to efficiency. Ultimately, it decides to either authorize mergers with or without conditions, or prohibit them based on the notifications received.
Surveillance & Investigation
Market surveillance and investigation are vital tools for protecting consumers when violations occur. This component of our work is both random and targeted. Most targeted interventions result from intelligence gathered by or provided to the Commission, including anonymous tips. Random interventions serve as a quality assurance mechanism. Some activities here are preventive and may lead to the publication of Guidelines or Advisories on products in the market and restrictions on consumption or use. The Commission also conducts market studies and research to identify potential anti-competitive practices or violations of consumer protection.
Complaint Resolution
The Commission uses various mechanisms to resolve complaints that are filed with it. Typically, consumer complaints and dissatisfaction are submitted to the Commission as “complaints.” The Commission receives these complaints in various ways, including online, in person, in writing, and through multiple social media platforms. We resolve most complaints through one or more of our resolution tools, such as direct engagement, negotiations, mediation, conciliation, investigation, administrative hearings, and collaboration with other regulators. Investigations and hearings usually occur when a market intervention becomes compelling or when conduct is egregious or indicative of a pattern or widespread infraction.
Quality Assurance & Development
The satisfaction and safety of the Nigerian consumer are paramount. The Commission is committed to nationwide quality assessment of products and services, through inputs into national and international standards, sampling, analysis, investigation, process auditing, and the development and issuance of Guidelines/Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure that products, services, and processes are of good quality, safe, and meet consumers’ expectations, while providing value for money.
Consumer and Business Education
The Commission undertakes regular consumer and business education programmes. These initiatives seek to educate consumers about their rights, responsibilities, and market dynamics, providing them with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions and avoid anticompetitive and consumer protection violations. Concurrently, it informs businesses of their legal responsibilities regarding competition and consumer protection.
Strategic Communication
Using available channels, the Commission makes deliberate efforts to provide the public with information regarding the exercise of its powers and the performance of its functions. This enhances stakeholder participation in its affairs and promotes compliance with competition and consumer protection laws and regulations.
Legal Services
The legal team offers a range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of the organization and its stakeholders. These services include document drafting and review, litigation and arbitration management, legal advisory services, stakeholder engagement, and legal research and analysis. Legal services are a cornerstone of the FCCPC, ensuring that all activities and initiatives align with legal requirements and contribute to the Commission’s overarching mission of promoting fair competition and protecting consumers’ interest.
Research & Statistics
The Commission engages in domestic and global research on products and services, as well as changing or evolving market trends and consumer behavior. The objectives are to create a database for planning, develop strategies for interventions, and modify existing mechanisms to be more effective. Research and statistics play a pivotal role in how the Commission accomplishes its mandate and allocates its limited resources.
- Provide data base for organizational planning purposes on the concept of consumerism;
- Develop strategies for interventions; and
- Modify existing mechanisms to be more effective and/or efficient.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is the leading authority for competition and consumer protection in Nigeria. The Commission is empowered by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 (FCCPA) to, among other things, promote fair business practices and safeguard the interest of consumers.
In furtherance of its mandate, the Commission deploys several regulatory tools in key areas of its operations. These include:
Anticompetitive Practices
To combat anti-competitive practices, the Commission closely monitors business interactions among partners, wholesalers, and retailers. This oversight is geared towards promoting competition within the Nigerian economy while preventing any practices that could lead to the abuse of market dominance or monopolies, all for the benefit of consumers. In addition, it investigates anti-competitive practices, including price fixing, bid rigging, market allocation, and the abuse of dominant market positions, for possible legal actions against the involved parties.
Mergers and Acquisition
The Commission evaluates mergers and acquisitions in Nigeria to ensure that they do not significantly diminish competition in the relevant market. With the authority to approve, reject, or set conditions for such transactions, the Commission reviews and analyzes mergers and business combinations upon receiving notice, aiming to prevent market distortion or impediments to efficiency. Ultimately, it decides to either authorize mergers with or without conditions, or prohibit them based on the notifications received.
Surveillance & Investigation
Market surveillance and investigation are vital tools for protecting consumers when violations occur. This component of our work is both random and targeted. Most targeted interventions result from intelligence gathered by or provided to the Commission, including anonymous tips. Random interventions serve as a quality assurance mechanism. Some activities here are preventive and may lead to the publication of Guidelines or Advisories on products in the market and restrictions on consumption or use. The Commission also conducts market studies and research to identify potential anti-competitive practices or violations of consumer protection.
Complaint Resolution
The Commission uses various mechanisms to resolve complaints that are filed with it. Typically, consumer complaints and dissatisfaction are submitted to the Commission as “complaints.” The Commission receives these complaints in various ways, including online, in person, in writing, and through multiple social media platforms. We resolve most complaints through one or more of our resolution tools, such as direct engagement, negotiations, mediation, conciliation, investigation, administrative hearings, and collaboration with other regulators. Investigations and hearings usually occur when a market intervention becomes compelling or when conduct is egregious or indicative of a pattern or widespread infraction.
Quality Assurance & Development
The satisfaction and safety of the Nigerian consumer are paramount. The Commission is committed to nationwide quality assessment of products and services, through inputs into national and international standards, sampling, analysis, investigation, process auditing, and the development and issuance of Guidelines/Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure that products, services, and processes are of good quality, safe, and meet consumers’ expectations, while providing value for money.
Consumer and Business Education
The Commission undertakes regular consumer and business education programmes. These initiatives seek to educate consumers about their rights, responsibilities, and market dynamics, providing them with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions and avoid anticompetitive and consumer protection violations. Concurrently, it informs businesses of their legal responsibilities regarding competition and consumer protection.
Strategic Communication
Using available channels, the Commission makes deliberate efforts to provide the public with information regarding the exercise of its powers and the performance of its functions. This enhances stakeholder participation in its affairs and promotes compliance with competition and consumer protection laws and regulations.
Legal Services
The legal team offers a range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of the organization and its stakeholders. These services include document drafting and review, litigation and arbitration management, legal advisory services, stakeholder engagement, and legal research and analysis. Legal services are a cornerstone of the FCCPC, ensuring that all activities and initiatives align with legal requirements and contribute to the Commission’s overarching mission of promoting fair competition and protecting consumers’ interest.
Research & Statistics
The Commission engages in domestic and global research on products and services, as well as changing or evolving market trends and consumer behavior. The objectives are to create a database for planning, develop strategies for interventions, and modify existing mechanisms to be more effective. Research and statistics play a pivotal role in how the Commission accomplishes its mandate and allocates its limited resources.