Fake sugar in circulation, FG warns Nigerians

Fake sugar in circulation, FG warns Nigerians

By Jeffrey Agbo

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has raised an alarm over the circulation of substandard and unregistered sugar products in Nigerian markets.

According to FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, investigations revealed that the fake and smuggled sugar, allegedly imported from Brazil, lacks proper labelling including production and expiry dates, batch numbers and the mandatory National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration.

Ijagwu highlighted that many of these sugar products are not fortified with Vitamin A, a vital nutrient essential for vision, immune health and general well-being. The absence of fortification poses serious health risks especially to vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women, increasing the likelihood of blindness and infections.

The FCCPC also expressed concern over the economic impact of the influx of substandard sugar which undermines fair competition and places undue pressure on compliant local producers who adhere to regulatory standards.

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Ijagwu noted that importers of fake sugar engage in price manipulation, negatively affecting both legitimate producers and consumers. He emphasised that smuggling, particularly through porous borders with Cameroon and Benin Republic, exacerbates enforcement challenges and hinders traceability.

“This jeopardises the sustainability of the Nigerian sugar industry and also erodes consumer trust in the market. Smuggling, facilitated through porous borders, particularly from neighbouring countries such as Cameroun and the Benin Republic further complicates enforcement efforts and hampers traceability,” he said.

The FCCPC reassured Nigerians that it is taking decisive action to address the issue in line with the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) of 2018.

The commission called on consumers to remain vigilant and report suspicious sugar products to the authorities to safeguard public health and ensure market integrity.