By Felix Khanoba
British American Tobacco (BAT) has paid the $110 million fine imposed on the company by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for various business infractions.
The fine, which addressed violations of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, the National Tobacco Control Act, and other legal instruments, was imposed on BAT and its affiliate companies in 2023.
During a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the acting Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the FCCPC, Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, confirmed that BAT completed the payment in two installments, one in January and the other in March 2023.
“The full $110 million was paid at the official exchange rate at that time through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The Federal Government received 40 percent of the amount, while 60 percent went to the FCCPC,” Abdullahi stated.
Dr. Abdullahi, who took over as acting EVC in January 2024 following the disengagement of the Commission’s pioneer head, Babatunde Irukera, also recounted the FCCPC’s key achievements over the past seven months.
“In this period, we have actively worked to prevent anticompetitive practices, protect consumers, and foster a competitive market,” Abdullahi noted. “Our efforts included enforcing the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), reviewing mergers, conducting investigations, and engaging in consumer and business education.”
He said to address the public’s concerns over rising food prices, the FCCPC implemented measures to curb price gouging and promote fair competition. This included monitoring markets, partnering with stakeholders, enforcing pricing transparency, and taking action against underweight bags of rice, expired goods, cement price hikes, substandard iron rods, and discriminatory practices in some supermarkets.
Abdullahi emphasised the Commission’s dedication to consumer protection, especially in the digital money lending sector.
“We are implementing the Limited Interim Regulatory/Registration Framework and Guidelines for Digital Lending to regulate Digital Money Lenders (DMLs),” he said. “This includes ensuring that all DMLs register with the FCCPC, operate legally, and provide transparent loan terms and conditions without hidden fees.”
Regarding enforcement, Abdullahi highlighted a landmark judgement by the Federal High Court in Lagos, which convicted Dr. Anuoluwapo Funmilayo Adepoju and MedContour Services Limited for obstructing an FCCPC investigation.
“This judgement strengthened the FCCPC’s authority to investigate consumer rights violations across all sectors, including healthcare,” he added.
Speaking further, Abdullahi said FCCPC collaborated with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and initiated investigations into high airfares charged by international airlines, resulting in the release of lower fare inventories that had been blocked due to trapped funds.
He said the the Commission also recently imposed a $220 million fine on Meta Platforms Inc. and WhatsApp LLC for discriminatory practices in Nigeria.
Addressing Shell Petroleum Development Company’s plans to divest its offshore assets in Nigeria, Abdullahi stressed the need to address potential environmental degradation.
He also commented on the challenges faced by Dangote Refinery regarding product quality disputes with a federal agency, expressing optimism about a resolution facilitated by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri.
Dr. Abdullahi concluded by highlighting the FCCPC’s ongoing efforts to protect Nigerian consumers and ensure fair business practices across all sectors.
