*The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and Nigerian Shippers鈥� Council partner to ensure consumers are treated fairly, market operates robustly, and the playing field is level for all industry operators without entry barriers

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

In a move to ensure fair competition among operators in the maritime sub-sector of the Nigerian economy, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Shippers鈥� Council (NSC).

Mr. Babatunde Irukera, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Commission, who disclosed this development at an event Thursday, January 20, 2022, in Abuja, FCT, said that the collaboration would remove bottlenecks and increase effective commerce in the industry.

Photo: The Union Nigeria

Irukera noted that the two organisations are partners in ensuring that consumers are treated fairly, market operates robustly, and ascertaining that the playing field is level for all in the market, without entry barriers, agency report said.

The FCCPC CEO further expressed confidence that the agreement between the Commission and NSC would be activated as quickly as possible.

He, who commended the Council鈥檚 approach to work with the consumer protection regulatory Commission, described such as collaborative and supportive.

Irukera also stated: 鈥淔or us, consumption is as much about pricing, as it is with disposable income and with satisfaction.

鈥淧eople are likely to purchase again if they are satisfied and if there is enough money to purchase again, so, we are partners in making sure that consumers are treated fairly.

鈥淲e share the view that shippers are entitled to a fair recompense for the work and service they provide;

鈥淏y the same token, they share the view that the interim payers or the ultimate payers for the service they provide are also entitled to a fair value, for money proposition.鈥�

The EVC/CEO of the Commission said: 鈥淥ur work is to find that balance, make sure commerce increases and ensure there are no bottlenecks to commerce.

鈥淲e will also ensure that those in the business themselves are not bottlenecks to fairness to the citizens of this country.鈥�

In his remark on the MoU, Mr. Emmanuel Jime, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers鈥� Council, described the shipping industry as a very sensitive sector of the economy, report stated.

Jime said the NSC was involved in cost modulation to the extent that ultimate benefits to the Nigerian consumers were guaranteed.

The NSC Chief said: 鈥淐ost-effectiveness is the key element of how services are delivered and when competition is properly monitored and consumers protected, it impacts costs.

鈥淲e are sector regulators, we have a common interest and we have to engender a common understanding.

鈥淭here is a need to have this kind of partnerships,鈥欌�� Jime said.

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