FCCPC Handles 9,091 Complaints, Recovers ₦10bn for Consumers in Six Months

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has disclosed that it received 8,255 consumer complaints between March and August this year and successfully resolved 9,091 cases within the same period. The interventions, according to the Commission, led to recoveries exceeding ₦10 billion for aggrieved Nigerians.

In a statement issued by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the banking sector accounted for the highest number of complaints with 3,173 cases, followed by Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) at 1,543 and fintech with 1,442 complaints.

Other sectors that attracted significant grievances include electricity (458), e-commerce (412), telecommunications (409), retail/wholesale/shopping (329), aviation (243), information technology (131), and road transport/logistics (114).

The complaints ranged from unfair charges, service failures, unauthorized deductions, deceptive marketing, poor disclosure of terms, product defects, and delayed redress mechanisms.

Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, described the figures as a reflection of everyday challenges Nigerians face in essential services.

“These numbers are not just statistics; they tell the story of consumer frustration and the struggles people encounter in banking, electricity, telecommunications, and other vital services. The Commission is determined to hold businesses accountable, enforce compliance with the FCCPA, and promote fair market practices,” Bello said.

The FCCPC noted that banking and fintech complaints dominate both in volume and financial exposure, underscoring the vulnerability of consumers in these sectors. Persistent issues in the electricity sector, particularly over billing and service delivery, also ranked high on the list of grievances.

While disputes in e-commerce are relatively low in monetary value, the Commission warned that the frequency of cases involving failed deliveries, counterfeit goods, and refund issues points to growing consumer risk in the retail space.

The agency further revealed that disputes linked to digital lending, investment schemes, and microfinance institutions remain widespread, prompting it to roll out new regulations to address abuses in the sector.

Consumers were encouraged to continue reporting violations through the FCCPC complaint portal (complaints.fccpc.gov.ng) or its zonal and state offices, as every complaint helps in identifying systemic challenges and enforcing redress.

The Commission emphasized that publication of the data was in line with its mandate under Sections 17(a) and 17(j) of the FCCPA 2018, which empower it to enforce consumer protection laws and keep the public informed.