By Olufunmi
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has reiterated its commitment to safeguard health and rights of consumers through stricter enforcement of food safety and quality standards across the country.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Mr Olatunji Bello, stated this on Tuesday at a one-day sensitisation campaign on “Food Quality Standards, Safety Regulations, and Fair Business Practices”, organised by the Commission.
Bello, represented by the Director, Quality Assurance and Development, Dr Nkechi Mba, said the campaign aimed to raise awareness on the dangers of food adulteration and the importance of compliance with national food safety laws.
He said the sensitisation campaign was part of the Commission’s broader effort to educate Nigerians on identifying adulterated foods, the dangers of chemically ripened fruits and the channels for lodging complaints and seeking redress.
According to him, access to safe, nutritious and unadulterated food remained a fundamental human right and a key pillar of public health and national security.
Bello further explained that the commission had continued to collaborate with sister agencies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), among others to ensure compliance and protect consumers.
He urged food processors, vendors and business owners to uphold hygiene and safety standards, ensure proper labelling and packaging of food products, and desist from deceptive or unfair business practices.
He warned that any business operator who prioritised profit over public safety would face the full weight of the law and called on consumers to be vigilant and report cases of food adulteration or unsafe practices.
“Food safety is everyone’s responsibility, and the FCCPC remains committed to building a fair, transparent and safe marketplace for consumers,”he said.
He urged all stakeholders to work collectively to eliminate harmful food practices and promote a culture of accountability and responsibility in the food sector.
“A nation that poisons its people cannot prosper. We are all consumers — an injury to one is an injury to all. Together, we can build a healthier and safer Nigeria,” Bello stated.