The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it has expanded its market surveillance and product testing to electrical and electronic products to ensure strict regulatory compliance.
The organisation also said it was extending market surveillance to cables and other building materials due to significant product safety issues regarding collapsed buildings.
According to the Director of the Surveillance and Investigations Department at FCCPC, Mrs Boladale Adeyinka, there are products that did not meet basic safety and quality standards in circulation.
She noted that where business conduct raises concerns about consumer safety, such matters would be investigated.
Mrs Adeyinka said the commission was coordinating with various sector regulators to address weaknesses that permitted unsafe products to enter or remain in the market.
”When a product presents a risk, the law requires prompt collective action, including product withdrawal, product recall, and proper notice to the consumer.
“If you are producing products in Nigeria and you discover there is a safety concern or likely to be a safety concern with respect to products that you have rolled out in the market, you have an obligation to withdraw and recall them.
“You also give notice to consumers who have purchased those products to be able to make the remedial actions, particularly with products that may significantly affect the lives of consumers of those products.”
“These are not optional expectations but legal requirements under our law. They are statutory duties to ensure product safety and consumer welfare in Nigeria.
“Failure to act responsibly by recalling, withdrawing, and issuing consumer notice will attract strict and stiff regulatory response from the commission,” she added.
The official noted that, “Compliance is not a favour to the regulator,” she stated.
Mrs Adeyinka also said FCCPC, headed by Mr Tunji Bello, remained committed to effectively monitoring and enforcing compliance across the market.