Nigerian govt investigates Air Peace, bank, Telco over violations

The Nigerian government has launched an inquiry into Air Peace, Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), a telecommunications firm, and MTN over possible violations of consumers’ rights.

This was made known by the Spokesperson of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Ondaje Ijagwu, on Sunday.

FCCPC revealed that during the investigation, Air Peace is expected to respond to allegations of exploitative ticket pricing, including significant price hikes for advance bookings on certain domestic routes.

In the banking sector, the FCCPC will engage GTB over reports of network failures that hinder customers from accessing their funds or using banking applications.

In the telecommunications sector, MTN Nigeria faces questions regarding persistent complaints of undelivered data services, unexplained data depletion, and inadequate customer care.

According to the commission, the probe will begin on December 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 2024, respectively.

“The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has launched a major inquiry into widespread consumer complaints against leading players in the banking, telecommunications, and aviation sectors.

“The inquiries, which will begin on December 3rd, 4th, and 5th, respectively, are intended to address issues of poor service delivery, exploitative practices, and potential consumer rights violations.

“These inquiries are being conducted under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, specifically Sections 17, 18, 32, 33, 80, 110, 111, 112, and 113, which empower the FCCPC to investigate and resolve practices that undermine consumer rights, disrupt markets, or create unfair competition.

“The FCCPC’s engagement with these companies provides a platform to address consumer concerns, clarify business practices, and enforce compliance with regulatory standards. The companies will be required to appear before the Commission on designated days to provide information and responses to enable the Commission to make determinations and resolve pending issues promptly.

“This action reflects the Commission’s commitment to safeguarding consumer rights, fostering a fair marketplace, and ensuring accountability across all sectors.

“We urge consumers to continue to report instances of poor service delivery or exploitative practices to the FCCPC through its official channels,” the commission stated.