FCCPC Shuts Down France, Belgium, and Italy Visa Centres in Abuja
FCCPC Shuts Down France, Belgium, and Italy Visa Centres in Abuja
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed the visa centres for France, Belgium, and Italy situated at Mukhtar El-Yakub House in the Central Business District of Abuja.
The enforcement operation was carried out with the support of personnel from the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, following resistance from staff members at the centre during the sealing process.
Sealing off the centre on Thursday, the Director, Surveillance and Investigations Department of FCCPC, Mrs Boladale Adeyinka, said the move was due to the failure of the centre to receive a letter of the Commission to investigate a consumer complaint.
Adeyinka said the centre was also sealed due to obstruction of investigation or inquiry, and conducting services considered, upon reasonable suspicion, to be inimical to consumers’ welfare.
She mandated the company to appear before the Commission on June 20, to testify, make depositions and provide evidence in relation to failure to receive a letter from the Commission to investigate a complaint and obstruction of investigation or inquiry.
She said, “This is an enforcement operation against TLS. As you are aware, they provide visa support services to Nigerian consumers.
“On the 25th of March 2025, based on a consumer complaint, a letter was served on them to address the consumer complaint, as is the process of amicable resolution of consumer complaints at the commission.
“The officers of TLS, rather than receive the consumer complaint, proceeded to assault our officers who were conducting the lawful duty of protecting and implementing the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA).
Following the receipt of a formal report, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) issued a directive summoning representatives of the visa centre to appear before the Commission in accordance with Section 33 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA).
However, instead of complying with the summons, officials of TLS Contact—the company managing the visa centre—allegedly assaulted FCCPC personnel and uniformed police officers providing lawful security during the commission’s operations on June 17.
According to the FCCPA, Section 33 provides that any individual who, without sufficient cause, fails or refuses to comply with a commission summons commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to imprisonment for up to three years, a fine not exceeding ₦20 million, or both.
FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman, Babatunde Irukera (or Adeyinka if referring to another official), stated that TLS Contact would be held accountable for any losses or inconveniences suffered by visa applicants as a result of the enforcement action.
The visa application centre, located at Mukhtar El-Yakub House in Abuja’s Central Business District, serves applicants for France, Belgium, and Italy. It is managed by TLS Contact, a subsidiary of Teleperformance.
The management of the company declined to comment on the incident.
NAN
