By George OPARA
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening collaboration in consumer protection and product safety regulation in Nigeria.
The agreement, implemented on Wednesday at the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja, is designed to improve coordination between both agencies in addressing substandard goods, unsafe pharmaceuticals, and misleading product claims.
At the event, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said the MoU was a deliberate step towards improving regulatory outcomes in areas where the mandates of both institutions intersect.
While FCCPC’s core responsibility is to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, and exploitative practices, NAFDAC’s mandate was said to focus on regulating the safety and quality of products including food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, and chemicals.
He added that the increasing overlap in their functions has made collaboration not only necessary but inevitable.
“In reality, the work of both agencies often converges. A harmful product in the market is both a public health concern and a consumer protection issue. Addressing such challenges requires coordinated action”.
He affirmed that the MoU provides a clear framework for cooperation, particularly in information sharing, joint investigations, and enforcement actions.
Under the agreement, both agencies will establish mechanisms for timely exchange of data to support investigations, policy development, and regulatory interventions. It also introduces a more streamlined process for handling consumer complaints.
Bello said the arrangement would eliminate confusion among consumers about where to lodge complaints, as cases can now be received through a unified process and directed appropriately between the two agencies.
The MoU also provided for the creation of designated liaison teams to improve coordination and ensure more efficient responses to regulatory issues.
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