Nigeria imposes $110m penalty on British American Tobacco for violations

 

By Ayegba Joseph

Nigeria has imposed British American Tobacco $110 million fine, for breaching the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, the National Tobacco Control Act, and other relevant laws, according to a statement by the FCCPC on Wednesday. The statement also said that BAT must comply with 24 months of supervision and monitoring, compulsory public health and tobacco control advocacy, and written assurances to the commission.

“The Commission initiated an active investigation into BAT on August 28, 2020, based on the Commission’s conviction that a number of reliable sources and intelligence warranted a wider and deeper investigation into certain conduct, by and for BAT parties,” FCCPC said.

The FCCPC said that it reached its decision after a thorough examination of the evidence, new submissions from BAT Parties, and communication. The investigation’s outcome stated: “That BAT Parties shall pay a fine of $110,000,000 under and in accordance with Section 155 of the FCCPA, Clause 11 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s Administrative Penalties Regulations, 2020 and Clause 4.2 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s Investigative Cooperation/Assistance Rules and Procedures, 2021.”

The commission affirmed that it would keep working to ensure fair market practices and protect consumer rights, “it said a skewed market only favors those who act dishonestly, at the cost of others, and exploitation of consumers while destabilizing the economy. It undermines a constitutional and national goal of economic development and shared wealth.”