FG reopens Sahad Stores as Obi says action heartless
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has reopened the head office of Sahad Supermarket sealed in Abuja on Friday for alleged extortion of customers and lack of transparency in price fixing.
The Acting Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Dr Adamu Abdullahi, said this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.
Abdullahi said the reopening followed a mutual understanding and commitment from the store to implement transparent pricing practices.
He said the Commission was aware that similar practices might be happening at other Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) outlets nationwide.
Abdullahi advised supermarkets or outlets engaging in customers’ extortion to desist from such practices immediately to avoid consequences.
“Businesses are expected to display transparent pricing information to empower consumers to make informed purchasing decisions, especially during challenging economic times.
“The FCCPC remains committed to combating all forms of exploitative or misleading practices that undermine consumer rights.
“The FCCPA protects consumer rights and prohibits deceptive business practices.
“Section 115 outlines potential penalties for violations, including fines for organisations and imprisonment for directors.
“The FCCPC encourages all businesses to adhere to fair and transparent pricing practices to ensure consumer protection and a healthy market environment,” the acting executive vice chairman said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Commission had on Friday sealed the supermarket for customers’ extortion and lack of transparency in prices.
Shutting Sahad Stores rascally, heartless – Obi
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, has described the sealing off of the popular Sahad Stores in Abuja as government rascality and heartless.
He said this in series of posts on his X handle on Saturday.
“I have just read the reports of the reopening of Sahad Stores, Abuja, which was earlier closed by the FCCPC on Friday. I thank the Commission for heeding the voice of reason and reopening the business without further delay.
“The closure was not a well-thoughtout option in the first place. Going forward, I would like to again, advise the government to avoid any further show of rascally behaviour that brings more pain to the people,” Obi said.
He said that the earlier sealing off of the business, just like pulling down people’s houses, and many uncaring and insensitive actions of the government, are not what is needed as a nation, at this time of extreme difficulties in the land.
He said, “The government should rather focus on saving the nation from further collapse and on building the economy, rather than engaging in rascal actions that portray the administration as heartless and thoughtless to the litany of challenges facing the Nigerian people.”
“I urge the government to take urgent actions to stem this rising tide of hunger in the nation and ensure sufficient production of goods and services.”