The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed several shops in Utako Market, Abuja, after uncovering deceptive practices involving the rebagging of locally produced rice as foreign brands.
The enforcement operation, which took place on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, was prompted by complaints from brand owners and concerned consumers.
The affected shops were found to be rebagging and marketing rice under popular brand names that have been out of circulation for nearly a decade, including Royal Stallion and Mama Gold. The Commission confiscated the counterfeit products and sealed the stores involved in the illicit trade.
Speaking to newsmen during the operation, Mrs. Boladale Adeyinka, Director of Surveillance and Investigation at the FCCPC, revealed that the action followed verified reports from brand owners. “We received credible information indicating that certain rice brands, including Royal Stallion, are no longer available in the Nigerian market, she stated.
Mrs. Adeyinka further explained that the persistent demand for foreign rice has created an avenue for unscrupulous traders to deceive consumers by rebagging local rice as imported varieties. “Because of the demand for foreign rice, some market cartels have resorted to rebagging local rice and passing it off as imported. This is a clear case of deception,” she said.
The Commission’s intervention is part of its broader mandate to protect consumers from misleading and unfair trade practices and to ensure transparency in Nigeria’s markets. The FCCPC reiterated its commitment to sustaining surveillance and enforcement activities to safeguard consumer rights and uphold market integrity.
