The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has announced a series of inquiries targeting three prominent Nigerian companies—Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), MTN Nigeria, and Air Peace Limited—following numerous consumer complaints.
In a statement issued by FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the Commission outlined the focus of the inquiries, scheduled for December 3, 4, and 5. These sessions aim to address issues such as poor service delivery, exploitative practices, and potential violations of consumer rights across the banking, telecommunications, and aviation sectors.
Telecommunications giant MTN is under scrutiny for complaints about undelivered data services, unexplained data depletion, and insufficient customer care support. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s leading domestic airline, Air Peace faces allegations of exploitative ticket pricing, particularly substantial increases in fares for advance bookings on certain routes.
While specific complaints against GTBank were not detailed in the statement, it is expected to respond to claims of subpar service and possible breaches of consumer rights.
The inquiries are conducted under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) of 2018. Sections 17, 18, 32, 33, 80, 110, 111, 112, and 113 of the Act empower the FCCPC to investigate and resolve practices that undermine consumer rights, disrupt markets, or foster unfair competition.
The companies will appear before the FCCPC on their designated dates to provide relevant information and respond to the allegations. The Commission aims to resolve these issues swiftly and ensure accountability in service delivery.
The FCCPC also reaffirmed its dedication to protecting consumer rights, fostering fair competition, and maintaining a balanced marketplace. It encouraged consumers to report instances of poor service or exploitative practices through its official channels.
