The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed some retail outlets and warehouses in Kano for allegedly engaging in deceptive trade practices involving the sale of under-measured fabric materials.

Its Director of Surveillance and Investigations, Bolade Adeyinka, who led the enforcement team, on Wednesday, disclosed this during the operation carried out in some parts of the state.

Some areas visited during the operations include Sharada, Gandun Albasa, and Ibrahim Taiwo Road, among others.

Adeyinka said the operations followed verified intelligence and weeks of discreet market surveillance, which revealed that several retailers were selling fabrics below the stated measurements while charging full prices.

“Today’s exercise targets businesses involved in deceptive practices, especially the sale of underweight or shortened fabric materials to unsuspecting consumers,” Adeyinka said.

She explained that the commission discovered that fabrics labelled as 10 yards, were actually nine yards, while others marked as five yards measured less than four and a half yards.

According to her, such practices contravene Sections 123 and 125 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, which prohibit false, misleading or deceptive representations of goods and services.

Adeyinka added that Sections 27 and 28 of the Act empower the Commission to enter and search premises, as well as seize materials and documents relevant to ongoing investigations.

She said the Executive Vice-Chairman of FCCPC, Tunji Bello, had directed that the affected premises be sealed for further investigations, while samples of the implicated fabrics were seized for measurement and quality verification.

“The sale of under-measured materials constitutes deceptive misrepresentation and violates consumers’ rights to fair, honest and equitable dealings as provided under Sections 120 and 124 of the Act,” she said.

The director stated that these practices exploit consumers and undermine fair market competition by putting honest traders who follow the law at a disadvantage.

She urged consumers to remain vigilant, insist on their rights, and report any suspected cases of deceptive trade practices through the FCCPC’s official complaint channels.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) is fast-tracking its transformation through strategic investments in infrastructure, governance reforms, and operational efficiency, positioning the company for a landmark Initial Public Offering (IPO).

Under its “Fit for the Future” strategy, NNPC Ltd.

Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Ojulari, disclosed this during a dialogue at the 2025 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC), emphasising the company’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and investor readiness.

Ojulari said NNPC Ltd. was steadily preparing for its IPO under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021) by improving governance, operational transparency, and accountability to meet international investment standards and expectations.

“Our IPO journey is mandated by law. We are publishing monthly performance reports and embedding global best practices to make NNPC a high-performing, investor-ready company with enhanced transparency.

“The ‘Fit for the Future’ project focuses on market leadership, building the necessary structures for IPO readiness, increasing investor attractiveness, and strengthening the company’s long-term competitiveness and operational capacity,” Ojulari said.

The CEO highlighted the transformation programme’s five core workstreams: production growth, gas monetisation, downstream optimisation, market leadership, and talent development, forming the backbone of NNPC’s strategy to become globally competitive.

Ojulari said the initiative was also reshaping NNPC’s workforce through innovation, digitalisation, and international exposure, enhancing staff capabilities via the “Talent Valley” programme and secondments with global partners.

He stated, “The new board and management were given a clear mission by the President: achieve two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million barrels per day by 2030.”

On gas development, Ojulari noted targets of 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion cubic feet by 2030, achievable through partnerships, operational efficiency, and access to broader investment capital.

He added that production recovery had been boosted by collaboration with international and indigenous operators, along with fiscal incentives under the PIA 2021, contributing to growth in oil output and investment confidence.

“Nigeria’s oil output has increased from 1.5 million to about 1.7 million barrels per day. We recently signed our first deepwater Production Sharing Contract in 15 years,” he revealed.

On gas, Ojulari said Nigeria’s reserves, exceeding 600 trillion cubic feet equivalent, positioned the country for full industrialisation and regional economic leadership, underscoring NNPC’s strategic focus on natural gas development.

He said NNPC was leading the Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline Project, connecting West African economies and Europe, allowing countries along the corridor to both consume and supply gas, boosting trade and energy integration.

“The pipeline aligns with our vision to make Africa a major global gas player while promoting economic integration, industrialisation, and sustainable development across participating nations,” Ojulari said.

He added that NNPC was finalising partnerships with global operators to upgrade refineries to international standards, seeking partners with proven expertise and shared investment responsibility to enhance operational efficiency.

Ojulari reaffirmed NNPC’s commitment to advancing energy access and industrial growth across Africa, emphasising that its transformation journey was simultaneously commercial and developmental, with benefits for investors, governments, and communities alike.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to deepening investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, with strong emphasis on energy mix that guarantees energy security for the country.

Lokpobiri, said the world is rethinking its approach to energy transition and returning focus to hydrocarbon development as a means of ensuring global energy security.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the ongoing OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week in Lagos, the Minister said recent reports by the United Nations underscore the urgent need for renewed global investment in the oil and gas industry to meet growing population and energy demands.

According to him, the UN projects that the world needs to invest about $540 billion annually in oil and gas recovery and associated infrastructure to guarantee stable energy supply.

He noted that while discussions around climate change and net-zero commitments remain important, the realities of global energy consumption and population growth have made it clear that hydrocarbons will continue to play a central role in the foreseeable future.

The minister observed that Nigeria’s downstream sector is gradually stabilising following the removal of fuel subsidy and the liberalisation of petroleum product pricing, describing the development as a bold and necessary step to attract private sector investment.

Lokpobiri commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking decisive policy actions that have repositioned the downstream sector for long-term growth.

He added that ongoing reforms in the oil and gas industry are geared toward ensuring energy security, encouraging domestic refining, and fostering private sector participation across the value chain.

The minister also called on stakeholders in the downstream sector to align with the government’s policy direction and contribute to building a more sustainable and diversified energy future.

The OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week, now in its 19th edition, serves as a premier platform for policy dialogue, industry networking, and investment promotion across Africa’s downstream petroleum value chain.