FCCPC seals 5 shops in Utako Market over sale of fake foreign rice brands

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed five shops at Utako Market in Abuja for allegedly re-bagging local rice and selling it as imported brands.

The Director of Surveillance and Investigation at the FCCPC, Boladale Adeyinka, led the enforcement raid on Tuesday following credible intelligence reports. She revealed that the shops were found to be packaging local rice in branded bags of foreign rice products that have long exited the Nigerian market.

“We are carrying out this operation to validate the intelligence that local rice is being repackaged in foreign labels and passed off as imported rice,” Adeyinka said.

She noted that the fraudulent act exploits consumers’ preference for imported rice, despite the exit of many foreign rice brands from the market.

“For example, Mama Gold stopped operations since 2015. Yet in 2025, we are still seeing rice sold in that packaging. Even the trader admitted those sizes are no longer in circulation,” she explained.

The FCCPC described the practice as deceptive and a violation of consumer protection laws. Adeyinka confirmed that the products would be confiscated and a full investigation would trace the source of the fake branding.

“If those involved do not cooperate, we will prosecute them. This is a criminal offence under the FCCPC Act,” she said.

She also urged consumers to buy rice directly from reputable mills or verified distributors of foreign brands, warning that counterfeit packaging harms both consumers and legitimate businesses.

Among the fake rice brands discovered were Royal Stallion and Mama Gold.