FCCPC seals France, Belgium, Italy visa centres in Abuja, see reason
FCCPC seals France, Belgium, Italy visa centres in Abuja
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Thursday, June 20, sealed off the visa application centres for France, Belgium, and Italy located at Mukhtar El-Yakub House in the Central Business District of Abuja.
The enforcement action was carried out with the support of officers from the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. According to the FCCPC, the action followed multiple violations, including the refusal of the visa centres to honour a formal summons regarding a consumer complaint and their obstruction of an official investigation.
Mrs Boladale Adeyinka, Director of Surveillance and Investigations at the FCCPC, explained that the commission had previously issued a letter on March 25, 2025, summoning the centres to respond to a petition lodged by an aggrieved applicant. However, the centres allegedly ignored the request. When officials returned on June 17 to continue the investigation, they were reportedly assaulted by staff of the visa centres, including members of the police team that accompanied the FCCPC.
Citing Section 33 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), Adeyinka noted that the commission is empowered to seal off premises of organisations that obstruct its lawful activities. Violators could face up to three years in prison, a fine of up to ₦20 million, or both. She further stated that the visa centres must appear before the commission on June 20 to provide their statements and supporting documentation. They may also be held liable for financial losses suffered by visa applicants due to the closure, and prosecution may follow if they continue to obstruct justice.