Nigeria: Antitrust/Competition Law

British American Tobacco faces significant penalties from Nigeria's Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission for alleged violations of consumer protection regulations. The case raises important questions about corporate compliance with local consumer laws and the enforcement powers of regulatory bodies in protecting market competition.

Nigeria's merger approval framework has evolved from a fragmented system under CAMA 2020 and ISA 2007 to a comprehensive competition-based regime under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018. This analysis examines whether the Corporate Affairs Commission could have administered competition reviews, why sector regulators retain parallel jurisdiction, and what institutional reforms would resolve the resulting coordination challenges.

The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on July 10 2026, delivered a landmark judgment affirming the statutory authority of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate consumer complaints regarding airline ticket pricing.1 The Court clarified that the Commission’s power to conduct investigations into pricing is distinct from its statutory power to regulate or fix prices under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA).2