By Nkechi Eze
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, 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.
The CJN made the remark on Tuesday while delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of a three-day Competition and Consumer Protection Law Conference held at the National Judicial Institute in Jabi, Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Corporate Affairs of FCCPC, Ondaje Ijagwu, the conference brought together top judicial officers, sector regulators, legal practitioners, scholars and policy experts to deliberate on emerging issues in competition and consumer protection law.
Justice Kekere-Ekun noted that as the statutory authority responsible for enforcing competition and consumer protection laws, the Commission plays a vital role in maintaining a fair marketplace and ensuring that consumers are adequately protected.
“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,” she said.
She explained that the Commission occupies a pivotal position within Nigeria’s regulatory framework, with responsibility for promoting fair competition and protecting consumers across critical sectors of the economy.
The Chief Justice further observed that competition and consumer protection law has become one of the fastest evolving areas of legal practice globally, driven by developments in digital markets, complex corporate structures and the growing need to address emerging consumer protection challenges.
“Across jurisdictions, competition and consumer protection law has rapidly evolved into one of the most dynamic and litigated fields of legal practice,” she said.
According to her, the increasing complexity of modern markets means that courts may witness a growing number of disputes relating to competition law, regulatory enforcement and consumer rights.
Justice Kekere-Ekun therefore stressed the need for sustained engagement between regulatory institutions and the judiciary to ensure effective interpretation and enforcement of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.
“Continuous dialogue and knowledge exchange between regulators and the judiciary are indispensable,” she added.
In his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC, Tunji Bello, emphasised the need to deepen awareness and understanding of competition and consumer protection laws among regulators, businesses and members of the judiciary.
“Competition and consumer protection law often finds its most practical expression in the courtroom,” Bello said.
“It is there that the legal principles governing markets are tested, clarified and given authoritative interpretation.”
Bello explained that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 established a comprehensive national framework for regulating anti-competitive conduct, protecting consumer welfare, reviewing mergers and acquisitions, and strengthening market surveillance in Nigeria.
He also noted that modern markets are evolving rapidly due to technological innovation, digital commerce, cross-border transactions and increasingly complex business structures.
“Technological innovation, digital commerce, cross-border transactions and increasingly complex corporate structures continue to reshape how markets function,” he said.
According to him, the growing complexity of market disputes now requires courts to examine economic evidence, expert testimony and market data in determining whether certain conduct restricts competition or harms consumer welfare.
The conference was attended by several senior judicial officers and policy experts, including M. L. Shuaibu, Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division; James Gambo Abundaga, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Asaba Division; A. B. Mohammed, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division; B. A. Adejumo, Administrator of the National Judicial Institute; FCCPC Executive Commissioner (Operations), Louis Odion; former Lagos State Attorney General, Moyosore Onigbanjo; former FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman, Babatunde Irukera; and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joseph Abugu.
