By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has announced its readiness to make inquiry into the deluge of consumers’ complaints regarding exploitative practices in banking, telecommunications and aviation sectors.
This is contained in a statement issued by FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Sunday Ondaje Ijagwu, on Sunday.
According to the statement, the probe is scheduled to commence from December 3 to December 5.
The statement added that the inquiry would address issues related to poor service delivery, exploitative practices, and possible violations of consumer rights.
“In the banking sector, the FCCPC will engage Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) over reports of network failures that hinder customers from accessing their funds or using banking applications,” Ijagwu said.
“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 advance bookings on certain domestic routes.
“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.”
Explaining how the company will carry out the probe, Ijagwu noted that the FCCPC’s engagement with the companies provides a platform to address consumer concerns, clarify business practices, and enforce compliance with regulatory standards.
He said the companies will be required to appear before the commission on specified dates to provide information and responses, allowing the commission to make decisions and address outstanding issues efficiently.
According to Ijagwu, the action reflects the FCCPC’s commitment to safeguarding consumer rights, fostering a fair marketplace, and ensuring accountability across all sectors.
He urged consumers to continue to report instances of poor service delivery or exploitative practices to the FCCPC through its official channels.
