FCCPC Seals Five Kano Warehouses for Selling Undermeasured Fabrics

Officials of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) have sealed five warehouses in Kano for alleged violations of measurement standards in the sale of fabrics.

The agency stated that the warehouses were being used to store undermeasured fabrics, which were then sold to unsuspecting consumers.

Boladale Adeyinka, FCCPC’s Director of Surveillance and Investigations, said the operation is part of the commission’s broader efforts to enforce the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, protect consumer rights, and promote fair competition in Nigeria’s marketplace.

The affected warehouses are located at Gandu Albasa Layout (numbers 238, 249, 313, 315, 413, and 428); 38 and 40 Ibrahim Taiwo Road; 87 Boar Rice Mill Street, Ajasa Inwua Wada Road; and 287 Gandu Albasa New Layout. Brands under investigation include LGR, UME, NANATEX, VLEVENTIS, MAMA AFRICA, ITEX, UE, SUVELT, and JISIKI products.

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At Sharada Industrial Layout, authorities discovered a large warehouse the size of a stadium, reportedly filled with millions of bundles of fabrics, including Fashion Kampala.

FCCPC officials noted that the scale of the business was immense, with billions of naira reportedly circulating monthly through deceptive transactions.

The commission has summoned the warehouse manager, Alhaji Habibu Ismail, to appear at its Abuja headquarters.

The closures followed verified intelligence reports of fraudulent trade practices involving the sale of undermeasured fabrics.

Adeyinka described the practice as “obnoxious and exploitative,” noting that millions of Nigerian consumers have been unknowingly shortchanged.

“Many of the complaints received by the commission stemmed from tailors and consumers arguing over fabric shortages after purchase, disputes often wrongly attributed to the tailors themselves. But it is not the tailors’ fault. When a consumer buys what is labeled as six yards and discovers it’s actually five, that’s outright deception. This must stop,” she said.

She reiterated that violators would face prosecution under the FCCPA.

“Under Section 155, individuals found guilty of contravening consumer rights risk imprisonment of up to five years, a fine of ₦10 million, or both. Corporate bodies face penalties of not less than ₦100 million or 10 per cent of their annual turnover, whichever is higher. Directors of such companies may also be personally liable, the commission added.

“This operation reinforces the Federal Government’s commitment to consumer protection and market fairness. We will not relent in ensuring that Nigerian consumers get value for their money and are protected from deceptive and fraudulent business practices,” Adeyinka stated.