Business
…Threatens Businesses Involved In Arbitrary Price Hike
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission FCCPC has threatened to prosecute businesses involved in unfair competition practices through unnecessary increase in prices of their products.
The commission said the warning became imperative following unnecessary price hike by sellers of basic health products as a result of the natural apprehension by consumers due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
The FCCPC said in a statement signed by its Chief Executive Officer, Babatunde Irukera, that those involved in such practices would be tracked, apprehended and prosecuted.
While commending the measures so far taken to contain the public health challenge of COVID-19, it warned against irrational pricing of critical hygiene products.
Irukera said, “The commission understands the natural apprehension consumers experience at a time like this.
“Although many have exercised circumspection and continued to ensure supply and pricing within fair and acceptable ranges, the commission’s periodic monitoring and reports still show that some suppliers and retailers continue to take undue and opportunistic advantage of citizens by selling these products at inexplicably high and excessive prices.
“The commission is determined to ensure that suppliers and retailers do not manipulate supply to distort the market or promote high prices or engage in excessive pricing of relevant products.
“The commission intends to enforce the law with respect to fair competition and consumer protection.
“We will deploy all available statutory tools to prevent profiteering and exploitation in this inauspicious season.”
The commission, according to the statement, urged suppliers, retailers, online shopping platforms, as well as individuals who buy to resell not to charge unreasonable or inflated prices.
It also urged consumers to moderate purchases and not to buy in panic.
Credit to Nigeria’s private sector rose to N83.26 trillion in June 2026 from N81.04 trillion in May, signifying a positive balance of N2.22 trillion month-on-month.
Year-on-year, the figure represents a nine per cent increase compared with the N76.13 trillion recorded in June 2025. The latest figures come as the CBN continues to balance efforts to control inflation with the need to support economic growth and expand credit to businesses.
The CBN data shows that credit to Nigeria’s private sector increased by approximately 2.74 per cent month-on-month between May and June 2026. Also, the CBN data noted that credit to the government fell slightly to N40.03 trillion from N40.38 trillion. Other assets, net, dropped to N10.76 trillion from N12.63 trillion.
The credit surge signifies sustained growth in lending to businesses and other private-sector borrowers during the month. The rise in private sector credit was recorded alongside an increase in net domestic credit, despite declines in credit to government and other assets.
Further analysis of the report says that compared with June 2025, private sector credit rose by about N7.13 trillion yea-on-year but net domestic credit increased by approximately N1.87 trillion during the month.
The CBN’s relatively tight monetary policy stance notwithstanding, more banks still loaded funds to the private sector within the period. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) held its 306th meeting on July 20 and 21.
The Committee reviewed recent developments in the global and domestic economies, assessed emerging risks to the outlook and considered their implications for monetary policy and retained all rates.
The Committee decided to retain the Monetary Policy Rate at 26.5 per cent; the Standing Facilities Corridor around the MPR at +50/-450 basis points and retain the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) for Deposit Money Banks at 45.00 per cent, Merchant Banks at 16.00 per cent, and non-TSA public sector deposits at 75.00 per cent.
The MPC decision means that credit extension in the private sector will likely continue to rise because of rising confidence in the sector and calls by stakeholders for banks to invest in the private scetor instead of government securities.
