A Lagos-based consumer advocacy organization, the Centre for Consumer Concern, Awareness and Initiative (CCC-AI), has raised concerns over unfair competition in the importation of cocoa-based products, calling on authorities to enforce stricter regulations to protect local manufacturers and consumers.
In a statement released on Monday, the group criticized the practice that allows importers of cocoa and dairy products to bypass pre-shipment SONCAP certification, describing it as a loophole that gives foreign products an unfair advantage over locally produced alternatives. CCC-AI further noted that weak enforcement of regulatory guidelines has created gaps that allow non-compliant products to enter the Nigerian market.
The group highlighted recent global recalls of contaminated SMA infant formula as a parallel concern. “Although details around the infant milk issue continue to unfold, both matters reveal a deepening crisis in Nigeria’s consumer protection and regulatory enforcement landscape, particularly regarding imported food and cocoa-based products. These are not isolated incidents,” the statement said.
CCC-AI warned that the trend reflects weakening regulatory vigilance, inconsistent corporate compliance, and growing risks to consumer safety.
The advocacy group urged the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to establish a joint task force with the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to address these issues. It also called on brands and importers to take responsibility for consumer safety, stating, “Nigerian consumers deserve safe products, fair markets, and regulators who act decisively in the public interest.”
