6 hours Ago By James Agberebi
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has launched a major inquiry into widespread consumer complaints against leading players in the banking, telecommunications and aviation sectors. In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja signed by the Commission’s director of corporate affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC said the inquisitions, which will begin December 3 through December 5 are intended to address issues of poor service delivery, exploitative practices and potential consumer rights violations. In the banking sector, the FCCPC said it would engage Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) over reports of network failures that hinder customers from accessing their funds or using banking applications.
In the telecommunications sector, MTN Nigeria faces questions regarding persistent complaints of undelivered data services, unexplained data depletion and inadequate customer care. Similarly, Air Peace Limited will address allegations of exploitative ticket pricing, including significant price hikes for bookings on certain domestic routes. It explained that these inquiries are being conducted under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, specifically Sections 17, 18, 32, 33, 80, 110, 111, 112 and 113, which empower the FCCPC to investigate and resolve practices that undermine consumer rights, disrupt markets, or create unfair competition.
The statement added that the FCCPC’s engagement with these companies provides a platform to address consumer concerns, clarify business practices, and enforce compliance with regulatory standards. “The companies will be required to appear before the Commission on designated days to provide information and responses to enable the Commission to make determinations and resolve pending issues promptly. “This action reflects the Commission’s commitment to safeguarding consumer rights, fostering a fair marketplace and ensuring accountability across all sectors,” he stated.
The FCCPC urged consumers to continue to report instances of poor service delivery or exploitative practices to the FCCPC through its official channels..
