Nigeria is taking a major step in tackling the flood of counterfeit goods across its markets by launching a Digital Traceability Portal, a technology-driven platform to verify the authenticity of products from source to shelf.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says the new system, unveiled in Abuja, allows products to be scanned and authenticated in real time via unique QR codes, marking a strategic move from reactive enforcement to proactive consumer protection.
Mr Kola Alabi, Executive Commissioner for Corporate Services at FCCPC, says the platform is being developed in collaboration with a newly inaugurated Joint Inter-Agency Committee of regulators and enforcement agencies, who will oversee its nationwide rollout.
Each item enrolled in the system will carry a distinct QR code, allowing manufacturers, distributors, retailers and even end-users to instantly verify a product’s source and movement through the supply chain.
“As the apex regulator, the Commission has sought the collaboration of key stakeholders in the development of this platform to ensure traceability and authenticity of products,” Alabi says. “Our goal is to deliver a solution that reduces counterfeiting and addresses other challenges within the supply chain.”
The Joint Inter-Agency Committee includes the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Customs Service, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Police Force, National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration (ACC).
The FCCPC says the Digital Traceability Portal will serve as a national digital backbone for market surveillance, product verification, and transparency across the supply chain—anchored on the Commission’s mandate under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
For Nigerian consumers, who often face health and safety risks from fake medicines, substandard electronics and counterfeit food, the technology promises to strengthen protection and rebuild trust in legitimate products.
Each item enrolled in the system will carry a distinct QR code, allowing manufacturers, distributors, retailers and even end-users to instantly verify a product’s source and movement through the supply chain.
The competition agency says the initiative could also support businesses battling the economic damage caused by counterfeiting, helping secure their brands and enhance consumer confidence in the market.
By embedding traceability into everyday transactions, the FCCPC hopes to position Nigeria as a model for digital-led consumer protection in Africa, while empowering buyers with the tools to make safer, more informed choices.
Home
Ok, THANKS