FCCPC seeks stronger media collaboration on consumer protection

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has called for sustained capacity building among journalists covering competition and consumer protection, saying the specialised beat remains relatively new in Nigeria.

The commission’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, stated this while receiving executive members of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

A statement issued on Sunday said Bello, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner for Operations, Louis Odion, recognised the importance of equipping journalists with the knowledge required to properly report competition and consumer protection issues.

He said the commission would consider the association’s request for training and further engagement.

“Competition reporting is indeed new in our jurisdiction,” he said, assuring the association that its request for training and engagement would receive due consideration and be followed up appropriately.

Bello said the relative novelty of competition law and consumer protection regulation in Nigeria had made stakeholder education a priority for the commission.

He disclosed that the FCCPC had recently supported a training programme for judges through the National Judicial Institute to deepen their understanding of competition-related matters.

“We recognised that because it is a new terrain, the judges themselves are not familiar with the nuances. So we brought in competition experts,” he said.

The FCCPC boss also highlighted the role of the media in increasing public awareness of the commission and its activities, saying sustained media coverage had helped Nigerians become more familiar with the agency.

He said many Nigerians were largely unaware of the FCCPC until recent years, but credited journalists with helping to raise its public profile.

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“If FCCPC is becoming more known to the public, it is as a result of the kind of publicity you have given us,” Bello said.

“When something happens here, and we issue a statement, it often receives front-page treatment, and we do not take that for granted.”

He also reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to supporting stakeholders within its available resources, noting that the agency funds major aspects of its operations, including litigation, staff welfare and regulatory activities, from internally generated revenue.

Earlier, the Abuja Chairman of CICAN, Gabriel Kuma, said the association remained committed to constructive journalism and stronger engagement with regulatory institutions.

Kuma said effective regulation required a professional relationship between regulators and the media, built around openness, accountability and access to accurate information.

“We are open to constructive reporting that holds institutions accountable. We believe that a strong regulator should have a strong media relationship, one built on openness, professionalism, mutual respect and access to accurate information. Where you need the support of the media in educating Nigerians, explaining important regulatory developments or creating greater awareness about consumer rights and fair competition, you can count on CICAN,” he said.

Meanwhile, CICAN will mark its 20th anniversary with a national dialogue on the Federal Government’s $1 trillion economy agenda, bringing together policymakers, regulators, investors, industry leaders and other stakeholders to examine how Nigeria can accelerate economic growth.

The event, scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at Barcelona Hotel, Abuja, will be held under the theme, “FG’s $1 Trillion Economy: Role of Policy Makers, Stakeholders and Media in Its Actualisation.”

According to the anniversary committee, the dialogue will provide a platform for stakeholders to examine the policies, reforms, investments and partnerships required to drive industrialisation, expand trade, attract investment, increase productivity and strengthen Nigeria’s global economic competitiveness.