Consumer Commission Investigates, Engage Regulators Over Substandard PMS In Circulation
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said it has become aware that a certain but limited quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) that does not comply with established, applicable, and prevailing standards has been distributed and sold in certain parts of the country.
Mr. Babatunde Irukera, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the Commission said this in a statement on Thursday.
TheFact Nigeria learned that the Commission is presently in the process of its initial investigative assessment.
Irukera said the Commission understands that consumers who purchased fuel that constitutes part of this consignment have experienced technical difficulties and or damage to their vehicles or other relevant equipment/machinery.
He said in furtherance of its investigation; and pursuant to relevant laws, the Commission is currently engaging multiple regulators and entities relevant and involved in the PMS distribution value chain.
The CEO said that the purpose of ongoing engagements include:
-Addressing hardship or difficulties consumers may experience with respect to withdrawal of the implicated products from the market.
-Securing assurance and promoting consumer confidence that supply constrains are addressed and will not persist.
-Ensuring that the regulator’s recall effort under applicable laws and regulations including Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 (FCCPA) sufficiently excludes continuing distribution of the implicated product.
-Encourage and promote additional and robust mechanisms to prevent reoccurrence.
-Develop a meaningful and transparent mechanism to address demonstrated injury to affected consumers.
Mr. Irukera said that so far, the Commission’s engagement with the key and relevant regulators/entities involved was constructive and productive.
He commended the responsiveness and prioritisation of ensuring continuity of supply, containment of implicated product and sensitivity to consumer dissatisfaction and inconvenience.
Irukera said that the Commission was continuing engagement, particularly with respect to a reasonable and acceptable mechanism to mitigate demonstrated injury and or loss experienced by consumers.
The Commission said it will continue to provide additional information as this rather dynamic situation evolves.
