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CPC, EFCC Collaborate To Combat Scam, Protect Consumers

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The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) on Thursday in Abuja signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to further protect consumers’ interest.
The Director-General of CPC, Mrs Dupe Atoki, said the collaboration was aimed at protecting consumers and combating scams, using a three point approach.
She said the approach would include a complaint data analysis to establish patterns, trends and hotspots and also consumer education campaign which would be done across the country.
“The third approach will be through a case investigation, prosecution and redress aimed at combating scams,” she said.
Atoki said the collaboration would henceforth bring to book perpetrators of fraudulent loan schemes and on-line foreign exchange trading, questionable mortgage and other deceptive business practices.
“The MoU was initiated to tighten the loose ends in the protection of consumers with the might of the enabling acts of the two agencies.
“It became inevitable in order to curtail the sharp trade practice of unscrupulous providers of goods and services, which often lead to financial losses to consumers in the country.
“Over the years, the council has received a large number of complaints from consumers bordering on fraudulent savings and loan schemes, deceptive mortgages and scams emanating from online forex trading companies.
“Others are fraudulent education admission/scholarship opportunities, deceptive business practice and pyramid sales schemes, aimed at defrauding unsuspecting and vulnerable consumers, with consumer losses valued at several millions of naira.”
She explained that the synergy created by the MoU would be such that would ensure that consumers received appropriate redresses, restitution and compensation in a competent court of law.
“Evidently the need for joint investigative and enforcement cooperation between the two agencies of government cannot be overemphasized, particularly on matters affecting consumers’ economic and financial well being,” Atoki added.
The EFCC Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, said that the collaboration between the two agencies was important to protect the interest of every person living in Nigeria.
“We need to stand up and get value and I am enjoining Nigerian consumers to demand their rights in all their interactions in the marketplace.
“When you buy something or you pay for service, it is already a contract.

L-R: Director, Resource Mobilization, National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA), Dr. Emmanuel Alhassan; Legal Director/Company Secretary, Airtel Nigeria, Gbenga Rotimi; Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya; Country Director, UNAIDS, Dr. Bilali Camara and Chief of Office, UNICEF, Sarah Beysolow-Nyanti during the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between UNAIDS and Airtel to eliminate Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV in Nigeria, at the Corporate Headquarters of Airtel Nigeria, yesterday, in Lagos.

L-R: Director, Resource Mobilization, National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA), Dr. Emmanuel Alhassan; Legal Director/Company Secretary, Airtel Nigeria, Gbenga Rotimi; Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya; Country Director, UNAIDS, Dr. Bilali Camara and Chief of Office, UNICEF, Sarah Beysolow-Nyanti during the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between UNAIDS and Airtel to eliminate Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV in Nigeria, at the Corporate Headquarters of Airtel Nigeria, yesterday, in Lagos.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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