FG Seals Off Abuja Store As Crackdown On Food Hoarding Begins

Twenty-four hours after President Bola Tinubu announced measures to address the causes of the food crisis, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) sealed Sahad Store, a renowned grocery in Abuja’s Garki district, today, February 16.

The supermarket’s management was accused of shortchanging customers by charging prices that differed from those displayed on the shelves. Adamu Ahmed Abdullahi, Acting Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, led the enforcement effort.

While speaking with reporters, Abdullahi stated that the commission’s preliminary inquiry indicated that the supermarket’s management was shortchanging customers. He stated that the store would be sealed till the additional inquiry was completed.

“What we have found out that these people are doing is misleading pricing and lack of transparency in the pricing, which is against Section 115 (3) of the law that says a consumer is not required to pay a price for any good or service higher than the one that’s on display.

“Section 155 states that any corporate person that contravenes is liable to a fine of 100 million naira or even more and the directors of the company themselves are liable upon conviction payment of 10 million naira each or imprisonment of six months or both.

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“What we have done today is to make sure that they comply with the law. We initially called them to come and defend themselves but failed to show up. In the long run, they sent a lawyer whom we asked if he was familiar with the facts of the case. He said he wasn’t. To unseal the store, they have to make sure that they do what is required to be done.”

This comes after the Federal Government and state governors decided to form a committee to address the issue of crop hoarding throughout the country.

Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, made the disclosure following President Bola Tinubu’s meeting with governors, heads of security agencies, and certain ministers at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.

Addressing State House media, the communications minister accused some dealers of hoarding food supplies and stated that security services had been authorised to work with governors to combat the scourge.

According to the minister; “Mr President has agreed to set up a committee to deepen the conversation that has happened at the just-concluded meeting. Of course, you know that it is impossible to complete most of the issues that were raised at the meeting so it is going to be a continuous one. ⁣The National Security Adviser, the Director General of the state services, and the Inspector General of Police have been directed to coordinate with the state governors to look at the issue of those hoarding commodities. ⁣

“At this point, the nation requires food to be brought out to the people so that we can control prices and put food on the table of most Nigerians. Other commodity traders are busy hoarding these commodities so that Nigerians will suffer or they will make more money as a result. ⁣

“So the governors and Mr. President have taken this decision that security agencies will collaborate with the state governors to ensure that this ends.”