The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has closed several shops at Utako Market in Abuja for selling local rice in fake foreign packaging.
The operation took place on Tuesday after the FCCPC received reports that some traders were putting Nigerian-grown rice into foreign-branded bags and selling it at high prices.
“This is not just cheating — it’s pure exploitation,” said Boladale Adeyinka, who led the operation. “Real imported rice has not been officially sold for years. These traders are using old brand names to trick customers and make more money.”
She also explained that some rice bags were still carrying labels like Mama Gold, even though the brand stopped exporting rice to Nigeria in 2015.
The FCCPC promised to investigate the case further. The agency said it would track down the people and companies behind the fake packaging and make sure they face the law.
During the raid, five large shops were shut after officials found many bags of the fake-branded rice. The shop owners were told to report to the FCCPC office for questioning.
Some traders claimed they did not know the rice was fake. One shop owner, Emmanuel Nneji, said:
“I didn’t know they stopped making this brand years ago. If I had known, I wouldn’t have bought it.”
Another trader, who didn’t want to share his name, said customers prefer popular names like Stallion rice. He admitted selling local rice under the fake brand to meet customer demand.
“People ask for Stallion rice. I even sell it cheaper — ₦18,000 for 10kg, while others sell it for ₦25,000 or ₦28,000.”
The Secretary of the Utako Market Traders Association, Alex Igwemma, said the FCCPC should have informed market leaders before the raid. He also warned traders to be careful and to sell only real and safe products.
The FCCPC has advised Nigerians to check rice carefully before buying and only purchase from trusted sellers.
The agency said this is the start of a nationwide crackdown on fake and misleading products, aimed at protecting consumers from being cheated.
