According to Sahara Reporters on December 27th, the Nigerian Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has imposed a fine of $110 million on British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited and its subsidiaries (referred to as BAT Parties). The reason for the fine is that they have violated the 2018 Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, as well as other related tobacco control regulations and directives.
The committee further indicated that BAT Parties will undergo 24 months of compliance and monitoring under the committee’s supervision to ensure their behavior and business practices are adjusted in accordance with existing competition regulations and tobacco control efforts.
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has disclosed its investigation activities from 2020 to 2023, which include reaching a final resolution with British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited (BATN), British American Tobacco Marketing Nigeria Limited (BATMN), British American Tobacco Company, and British American Tobacco (Holdings) Limited (collectively referred to as BAT Parties) for a series of violations of federal competition and consumer protection laws, the National Tobacco Control Act, and various legal documents in 2023.
The FCCPC also stated that further investigations have been conducted based on credible grounds and sufficient evidence. On August 28, 2020, a court issued a search and seizure order against British American Tobacco Nigeria and its affiliated companies (referred to as BAT Parties).
On January 25, 2021, the committee conducted simultaneous searches and seizures at various locations of the BAT Parties and one service provider based on the decision and detention order.
