The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed the operational premises of PWAN Max Property and Business Solution Limited over the alleged failure to allocate plots of land in Lagos State subscribed to and paid for by customers last year, despite repeated directives and compliance notices from the commission.
Enforcement Action Led by FCCPC Coordinator
The Southwest Zonal Coordinator of the FCCPC, Dr Olubunmi Otti, who led the enforcement team alongside security officers, said the action was carried out pursuant to Section 150(4)(a) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018, following complaints lodged against the real estate firm.
Consumer Petition and Investigation
According to Otti, the commission commenced investigations after a consumer petition filed in February 2025 accusing the company of failing to allocate 20 plots of land that had been fully paid for. She said the FCCPC subsequently invited the management of the company to appear before the commission to respond to the complaint, but the firm allegedly ignored two separate invitations.
Summons and Undertaking
Otti disclosed that the commission later issued a summons to PWAN, after which representatives of the company appeared and entered into a witness statement, undertaking to allocate the 20 plots of land and provide all relevant title documents to the subscriber on or before June 30, 2025.
Failure to Comply with Agreement
She noted, however, that the company allegedly failed to honour the agreement after the deadline elapsed, prompting the commission to issue a compliance notice in accordance with Section 150(1) of the FCCPA. According to her, the notice clearly outlined the nature of the non-compliance, the remedial actions required, the timeline for compliance and the penalties for continued violation, as stipulated under Section 150(2) of the Act.
Otti said despite being duly served with the notice and granted sufficient time to remedy the breach, the company failed to comply with the commission’s directive.
Sealing of Premises Under FCCPA
“Consequently and in direct exercise of the powers conferred on the FCCPC under Section 150(4)(a) of the FCCPA, which mandates the commission to shut down or close any premises where a compliance notice continues to be breached, the commission has proceeded to seal the premises of the company,” she said.
She emphasised that the enforcement action was not intended as punishment but rather as a corrective and consumer-protection measure aimed at ensuring compliance with the law.
Conditions for Reopening
According to her, the sealing of the premises would remain in force until the commission is satisfied that the breach has been fully remedied, after which a compliance certificate would be issued under Section 150(3) of the Act.
“We urge all undertakings to take compliance notices seriously, as the law does not permit the commission to exercise discretion once a clear violation persists after a notice has been ignored,” she stated.
Advice to Consumers
Otti also advised consumers to exercise due diligence in all transactions and verify businesses thoroughly before committing their funds.
