The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has emphasised the need for sustained capacity building in competition reporting, describing the beat as a relatively new area in Nigeria that requires specialised knowledge among journalists, regulators and other stakeholders.
Speaking while hosting the newly elected executive members of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, said reporting on competition was new to the country.
Represented by the Executive Commissioner for Operations, Louis Odion, Bello said the commission recognised the importance of strengthening the capacity of journalists covering competition and consumer protection issues.
‘It is true that competition reporting is new in our jurisdiction,’ he said, assuring the association that its request for training and engagement would receive due consideration and be followed up appropriately.
According to him, the relative novelty of competition law and consumer protection regulation in Nigeria has made stakeholder education a priority for the commission.
He disclosed that the FCCPC recently supported a training programme for judges through the National Judicial Institute (NJI) to deepen understanding of competition-related matters, noting that members of the judiciary also require exposure to the nuances of the emerging field.
‘We recognised that because it is a new terrain, the judges themselves are not familiar with the nuances. So we brought in experts on competition,’ he said.
Bello stressed that the media has a critical role in promoting public understanding of competition and consumer protection issues, commending commerce and industry journalists for helping to raise the profile of the commission in recent years.
He noted that many Nigerians were largely unaware of the FCCPC’s existence until recently, attributing growing public awareness of the commission’s activities to sustained media coverage.
‘If FCCPC is becoming more known to the public, it is as a result of the kind of publicity you have given us,’ he said. ‘When something happens here and we issue a statement, it often receives front-page treatment, and we do not take that for granted.’
The FCCPC boss also reiterated the commission’s commitment to supporting stakeholders within the limits of its resources, explaining that the agency funds much of its operations, including litigation, staff welfare and regulatory activities, from internally generated revenue.
Earlier, CICAN Abuja Chairman, Gabriel Kuma, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to constructive journalism and stronger engagement with regulatory institutions, including the FCCPC.
‘We are open to constructive reporting that holds institutions accountable. We believe that a strong regulator should have a strong media relationship, one built on openness, professionalism, mutual respect and access to accurate information,’ he said.
He urged the commission to deepen its engagement with key stakeholders, particularly the media and the organised private sector, to enhance public understanding of competition and consumer protection issues.