Inflation: FCCPC To Fight High Prices Of Food In Markets

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said it would engage with market leaders and stakeholders to fight high cost of food in the country.

The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, said the commission has identified price fixing and exploitation in markets by retailers.

Tunji Bello said while the commission acknowledges that the exchange rate affected the value of naira leading to high import costs, the prices charged for most food products in the market are not appropriate.

Bello said that price fixing and exploitation are more pronounced in markets where associations fix prices. In a statement on Monday, FCCPC said the practice is unfair.

The statement read, “In the coming days, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) will be engaging leaders of markets and others in the supply and distribution chain across the nation as part of a broader initiative to check exploitative pricing of consumer goods.

“While it is recognized that the exchange rate has impacted the value of the Naira, it is however observed that prices charged are, in most cases, disproportionate for imported products and excessive for locally produced ones.

“This unfair practice is prevalent in the retail segment of the distribution chain where some market associations are engaged in price fixing at the expense of consumers.

“Working with the market leaders, the Commission believes an understanding can be reached on reasonable pricing of products with a view to eschewing undue profiteering at the expense of consumers at a time of economic challenges.

“Such interaction will be sustained by the Commission to foster a better market culture that makes allowance for the trader’s margin without leaving buyers exploited.

“Already, the Commission has mandated the operators of supermarkets to visibly display the prices of products displayed on their shelves to shoppers for transparency and avoid an ambush situation where they only get to know of the prices after payment would have been made at the counter and receipt issued.”