FCCPC critical to protecting market integrity, business environment in Nigeria –Chief Justice

*Tunji Bello, Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, advocates stakeholders’ improved awareness, understanding of competition and consumer protection laws in the Nigerian economy

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Hon. Justice Kudirat M. O. Kekere-Ekun, GCON, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN),  has described the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) as a critical institution for safeguarding Nigeria’s business environment and protecting the integrity of the marketplace.

Justice Kekere-Ekun stated this Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Abuja, FCT, while delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of a three-day Competition and Consumer Protection Law Conference, holding at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Jabi, Abuja.

The CJN said: “As the statutory authority responsible for enforcing competition and consumer protection laws, the Commission plays a vital role in safeguarding the integrity of the marketplace.”

Top judicial officers, sector regulators, legal practitioners, scholars and policy experts, who attended the event included Mr. Tunji Bello, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of FCCPC; Hon. Justice M. L. Shuaibu, Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division; and Hon. Justice James Gambo Abundaga, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Asaba Division.

Others are Hon. Justice A. B. Mohammed, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division; Hon. Justice B. A. Adejumo, Administrator of NJI; Mr. Louis Odion, Executive Commissioner (Operations) of FCCPC; Moyosore Onigbanjo, former Attorney General of Lagos State; Mr. Babatunde Irukera, former Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO of the FCCPC; and Prof. Joseph Abugu, SAN.

Stressing the strategic role of FCCPC, the Chief Justice noted that the Commission occupies a pivotal position within Nigeria’s regulatory architecture, with responsibility for promoting fair competition and protecting consumers across critical sectors of the economy.

She explained that competition and consumer protection law has become one of the most dynamic areas of legal practice globally, driven by developments in digital markets, complex corporate structures and evolving consumer protection challenges.

Mr. Ondaje Ijagwu, Director of Corporate Affairs at FCCPC, in a statement, also noted the CJN said: “Across jurisdictions, competition and consumer protection law has rapidly evolved into one of the most dynamic and litigated fields of legal practice.”

The Chief Justice of Nigeria stated the increasing complexity of modern markets means that courts may witness a growing number of disputes involving competition law, regulatory enforcement and consumer rights.

Hon. Justice Kekere-Ekun, therefore, stressed the importance of sustained engagement between regulatory institutions and the Judiciary to ensure effective interpretation and enforcement of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.

She also noted: “Continuous dialogue and knowledge exchange between regulators and the judiciary are indispensable.”

Bello seeks improved awareness, understanding of regulatory provisions

In his earlier remarks, Mr. Bello, the EVC/CEO of FCCPC, had emphasised the need for greater awareness and understanding of competition and consumer protection laws among regulators, businesses and the judiciary.

Bello further explained: “Competition and consumer protection law often finds its most practical expression in the courtroom.

“It is there that the legal principles governing markets are tested, clarified and given authoritative interpretation.”

The FCCPC Chief Executive said that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 had established a comprehensive national framework for regulating anticompetitive conduct, protecting consumer welfare, reviewing mergers and acquisitions, and strengthening market surveillance in Nigeria.

He equally observed that modern markets are evolving rapidly due to technological innovation, digital commerce, cross-border transactions and increasingly complex business structures.

The Executive Vice-Chairman of the Commission stated: “Technological innovation, digital commerce, cross-border transactions and increasingly complex corporate structures continue to reshape how markets function.”

The increasing complexity of market disputes, Bello restated, means courts are often required to examine economic evidence, expert testimony and market data when determining whether certain conduct restricts competition or harms consumer welfare.

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