The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has directed supermarkets and retail operators to strictly comply with laws governing price tagging, product labelling and return and refund obligations, warning that these are legal requirements rather than optional best practices.
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos organized with the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, Commission Executive Vice Chairman Tunji Bello, represented by Zonal Coordinator Olubunmi Otti, said consumers must be able to trust that the price displayed on a shelf is the price they will pay, and that businesses failing to meet these obligations would face commission action. He said the law requires businesses to display prices clearly in naira to promote transparency and reduce disputes, while product labels must clearly identify what an item is, who made it and any safety information needed for its use, with businesses obligated to disclose when products are reconditioned or second hand.
Bello said return and refund obligations give consumers confidence that they will not be left without recourse when something goes wrong, explaining that consumers can cancel advance bookings and receive refunds subject only to previously disclosed cancellation charges, and have the right to return goods that are defective or not as described. He said businesses cannot rely on notices such as “no refund after payment” to override rights guaranteed by law, and described the partnership with the Lagos state agency as ensuring consumers get consistent protection while businesses receive coordinated regulatory guidance rather than conflicting messages from different agencies.
