The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has inaugurated a Joint Inter-Agency Committee to drive the development of its Digital Traceability Portal, an ambitious initiative designed to combat counterfeit products and boost transparency throughout Nigeria’s supply chains.
According to FCCPC management, the portal would assign unique QR codes to products, allowing consumers, manufacturers, merchants, and regulators to check authenticity, trace product origins, and assure complete tracking from manufacturing to point-of-sale.
The Executive Commissioner of Corporate Services, Kola Alabi, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to leveraging technology for consumer protection and market integrity.
“As the apex consumer protection body, the FCCPC has engaged key stakeholders to collaborate on building a platform that ensures product traceability and authenticity.
“The ultimate goal is to significantly reduce counterfeiting and tackle challenges within the supply chain,” Alabi said.
The newly formed committee includes representatives from major regulatory and enforcement bodies: the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Police Force, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration (ACC).
Alabi noted that the initiative aligns with the FCCPC’s statutory powers under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
The Act empowers the Commission to uphold fair market practices, shield consumers from deceptive activities, and foster multi-agency cooperation to serve the public interest.
The Digital Traceability Portal aims to initiate a new phase of digital responsibility, removing fake products and boosting consumer trust via instant product validation and improved supply chain transparency.