Kehinde Fajobi
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) announced on Wednesday that it has uncovered substandard and unregistered sugar products in Nigerian markets, primarily in the South-West and North-East regions.
FCCPC spokesperson, Ondaje Ijagwu, revealed in a statement that these fake products include smuggled brands from Brazil, such as Grupo Moreno, Terous, USI S. Joao, Alvean, and Arapora Bionergia.
“The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has uncovered the availability of substandard and unregistered sugar products,” the statement read.
Ijagwu explained that the substandard sugar was smuggled through Nigeria’s porous borders, particularly from neighbouring countries such as Cameroon and the Benin Republic.
Investigations revealed that these products lacked essential labelling, including production and expiry dates, batch numbers, and mandatory NAFDAC registration.
The absence of Vitamin A fortification in these products posed significant health risks, particularly to vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women.
The FCCPC highlighted the detrimental economic impact, noting that these substandard imports not only created unfair competition but also undermined the integrity of Nigeria’s local sugar industry.
This situation, it warned, contributes to price manipulation in the market.
“The products, which failed to meet mandatory Vitamin A fortification requirements, pose serious health risks to consumers, undermine the integrity of the local sugar industry, and contribute to price manipulation that harms the market,” the commission stated.