Jumia Nigeria has delisted 390 products belonging to 168 sellers of hand sanitizers and face masks from its platform.
The move followed a warning issued by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to sellers engaged in arbitrary increases in prices of protective and hygiene products in the wake of the recent outbreak of Coronavirus.
This was contained in a communication received by Babatunde Irukera, Chief Executive Officer, FCCPC from the Chairwoman, Nigeria, and Head of Institutional Affairs, Jumia Group, Juliet Anammah.
The letter reads in part: “Let me reconfirm that at Jumia we want to work with your agency, most especially at a critical time like this.
“390 products belonging to 168 sellers for sanitizers and face masks have been delisted.
“Unfortunately, this is an ongoing process as sellers can relist products. Thus, we will be doing hourly checks and clean up if necessary. “
The FCCPC said this the second time Jumia is responding to it’s warning in the last one week.
The FCCPC had on February 29 warned suppliers and retailers of safety and protective apparel such as face masks and latex gloves, as well as personal hygiene products like sanitizers and anti-bacterial wipes, against increasing their prices.
The warning became imperative following the high demand for these products due to the need to prevent infection or spread of the Coronavirus.
The warning is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Executive of the FCCPC, Mr. Babatunde Irukera.
Irukera in the statement said it had come to the attention of the commission that certain suppliers and retailers are taking undue advantage of citizens and engaging in unconscionable trade practices with respect to basic safety and protective apparel.
The statement said this unusual and inordinate practice of unreasonably increasing the price of these products in an indiscriminate manner, on account of the national public health concern violates both moral codes and extant law.
It said abusing citizens’ sensitivity, apprehension, anxiety and vulnerability, especially during emergencies that could adversely affect national security is a violation of the law.
