Can a Seller Refuse to Honour a Price Displayed on a Product in a Nigerian Store?

Generally no. A price tag or displayed price in a store constitutes an invitation to treat under contract law.

Where a seller accepts payment at the displayed price, a binding contract is formed and the seller must honor it.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 prohibits misleading commercial practices, including displaying a price and then charging a higher amount at the point of payment. This is considered deceptive marketing.

Step-by-Step Procedure to Resolve This Legal Matter:

1. Preserve Contemporaneous Evidence: Collate physical receipts, verified bank timestamps, stamped letters, and electronic communication logs prior to formal intervention.
2. Deliver Statutory Pre-Action Notice: Issue a formal written demand outlining the specific statutory breach and giving the opposing party statutory time to remedy the grievance.
3. Engage Accredited Legal Counsel: Initiate judicial proceedings before the competent court of record or submit an official petition to the relevant regulatory commission.

Where a cashier charges you more than the price displayed on the shelf or packaging, you are entitled to demand that the seller honor the advertised price or refund the difference if you have already paid.

Key Evidential Considerations & Statutory Benchmarks:

• Documented statutory breach and verified timeline of events.
• Jurisdictional competence of the regulatory agency or superior court.
• Contemporaneous written correspondences, notices, and financial records.
• Quantifiable proof of pecuniary loss or civil rights violation.

“The rule of law ensures that statutory rights and duties cannot be compromised by informal arrangements or administrative fiat; every citizen has the constitutional right to due process.”
— Nigerian Legal Precedent & Constitutional Jurisprudence

Intentionally displaying a lower price to attract customers and then switching to a higher price at checkout is a practice known as bait-and-switch, which the FCCPC explicitly prohibits and actively investigates.

The Consumer Protection Council, now absorbed into the FCCPC, has historically received complaints about pricing irregularities in retail stores and supermarkets. The Commission has powers to impose substantial fines.

In practice, genuine pricing errors do occur in large retail stores where shelf prices are not updated to reflect a recent change. Courts distinguish between intentional deceptive pricing and honest clerical mistakes.

Where an honest error is shown, a seller may decline to complete the sale at the erroneous price. But they cannot unilaterally alter the price after you have already tendered payment and the transaction is complete.

If a store refuses to honor an advertised price and you have evidence such as a photograph of the price tag, you can file a formal complaint with the FCCPC through its official complaint portal at fccpc.gov.ng.

For significant overcharges, particularly where the pattern suggests deliberate consumer fraud across many transactions, a civil class action is possible under Nigerian consumer protection law.

Always check your receipt before leaving a store. Verify that the amount charged matches the price displayed on the shelf for each item.

Discrepancies are easier to resolve before you leave the premises.

Keep photographs of shelf prices when shopping in high-value categories. A smartphone photo of the displayed price is powerful evidence if a pricing dispute arises at checkout.

Consumer protection laws exist precisely to keep sellers honest. Use them confidently whenever a retailer tries to charge you more than what was clearly advertised.

In Nigeria, the law exists to protect every citizen from exploitation and injustice, regardless of financial status or social standing. The courts are open to all, and regulatory agencies stand ready to enforce your rights.

Do not allow ignorance of the law to work against you. A brief consultation with a qualified Nigerian legal practitioner can clarify your rights and the remedies available in your specific situation.

For direct regulatory verification, official complaints, or accessing statutory registers without third-party fees, members of the public can consult the official portal of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

Taking proactive legal action at the earliest sign of a rights violation is always better than waiting until the damage becomes irreversible. Nigerian courts have consistently protected citizens who assert their rights promptly and lawfully.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse.