By Nkechi Eze
In a strategic move to safeguard consumers and enhance supply chain transparency, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has inaugurated a Joint Inter-Agency Committee tasked with the development of a National Digital Traceability Portal. The initiative, launched on Tuesday, June 4, 2025, at the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja, marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to combat the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard products in the market.
According to the FCCPC, the Traceability Portal will assign unique digital QR codes to individual products, allowing consumers, manufacturers, regulators, and retailers to verify authenticity, trace origins, and monitor the full lifecycle of goods within the Nigerian marketplace. This technological intervention is being championed as a critical tool in the nation’s fight against product fraud, illegal importation, and supply chain manipulation.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Mr. Kola Alabi, Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services at the FCCPC. Addressing representatives of participating agencies and other stakeholders present, Mr. Alabi emphasized the Commission’s resolve to lead regulatory innovation through collaborative digital solutions.
“As the apex regulator, the Commission has sought the collaboration of key stakeholders in the development of this platform to ensure traceability and authenticity of products,” he said. “Our goal is to deliver a solution that reduces counterfeiting and addresses other challenges within the supply chain.”
The newly constituted Joint Inter-Agency Committee comprises representatives from several key institutions with mandates intersecting product regulation and public safety. These include the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration (ACC).
The collaboration underscores a coordinated national response to the growing threat of counterfeit and substandard products, particularly in sensitive sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, electronics, and fast-moving consumer goods.
The initiative is rooted in the Commission’s statutory mandate under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which charges the FCCPC with the responsibility to promote fair market practices, protect the rights and safety of consumers, and foster inter-agency cooperation in confronting threats to economic and public health integrity.
By integrating real-time authentication and end-to-end visibility into Nigeria’s product ecosystem, the Digital Traceability Portal is expected to serve as a deterrent to illicit trade, enhance regulatory compliance, and empower consumers with critical tools for informed purchasing decisions.
When operational, the platform will also allow businesses to demonstrate transparency and build brand credibility, while government agencies will be equipped with data-driven oversight capabilities to enforce compliance and prosecute violations more effectively.
Industry experts and consumer protection advocates have lauded the move, describing it as a timely response to longstanding gaps in Nigeria’s product monitoring frameworks and a vital step toward aligning with international best practices in trade and consumer safety.
The FCCPC assured stakeholders that the Traceability Portal will undergo phased development, with continuous engagement from both the public and private sectors to ensure usability, scalability, and long-term impact.
