In a significant regulatory move, Nigeria's Competition Commission (NCC) has mandated British American Tobacco (BAT) to pay a staggering $110 million penalty. The Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) revealed this directive, accusing BAT, the manufacturer of Lucky Strike and Dunhill cigarettes, of abusing market dominance and breaching public health standards.
The FCCPC further highlighted that BAT had imposed penalties on retailers for providing equitable platforms to its competitors' products. The resolution, born out of an investigation into a spectrum of anticompetitive behaviors, including attempts to impede competitors and violation of public health control regulations, resulted in BAT and the FCCPC entering into a consent order.
The imposed fine signals a rigorous stance against market dominance abuse, prompting conversations about regulatory measures and public health standards within the tobacco industry.
