Popular Abuja store closed for “misleading pricing” is reopened by FG

After a brief closure, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has reopened Sahad Stores, a well-known supermarket in Abuja.

Due to the commission’s lack of transparency in how it set product prices, the stores were sealed on Friday, February 16.

The commission claimed that although the store charges higher prices at the register, its prices are lower on the shelves.

Customers were reportedly forced to pay more for goods due to the behavior, which the FCCPC described as “violations involving misleading pricing and lack of transparency.”

The commission’s acting Executive Vice Chairman, Adamu Abdullahi, announced that the stores had reopened for business in a statement, a copy of which PUNCH Online was able to obtain on Saturday.

“FCCPC operatives visited Sahad Stores on February 16, 2024, and confirmed through random checks that the deceptive practice not only continued, but cashiers also charged prices at their discretion, leaving unsuspecting customers vulnerable to unfair pricing,” the statement stated.

The Commission temporarily sealed the premises in accordance with its authority under Section 18(f).

“Yet on February 16, 2024, at around 7 p.m., the FCCPC reopened the store as a result of a mutual understanding and commitment from Sahad Stores to implement transparent pricing practices.”

The FCCPC declared its commitment to “combating all forms of exploitative or misleading practices that undermine consumer rights” and urged businesses “to display transparent pricing information to empower consumers to make informed purchasing decisions, especially during challenging economic times.”

The FCCPA emphasized that section 115 “outlines potential penalties for violations, including fines for organizations and imprisonment for directors,” emphasizing its role in defending consumer rights and outlawing deceptive business practices.

It urged all companies to follow reasonable and open pricing policies in order to safeguard customers and maintain a positive business climate.

The commission explained that on January 8, 2024, it “investigated Sahad Stores following reports of misleading pricing practices,” which provided context for the store’s initial closure.

“Sahad Stores violated Section 115 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 by charging higher prices at checkout and displaying lower prices on shelves, according to the investigation.

“All Sahad Stores branches in Abuja were included in the investigation to ensure a thorough understanding of the problem and to implement corrective measures across the entire chain.”

Promptly issuing a summons to specific Sahad Stores staff, the commission “asked them to appear on February 12, 2024, to discuss corrective measures,” the statement continued. The staff’s failure to show up without explanation raised concerns about possible violations under Section 33(3) of the FCCPA.