The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has warned Nigerians against consuming fruits ripened with calcium carbide.

The North-west Zonal Coordinator of the FCCPC, Abdulkarim Shehu, gave the warning Thursday while briefing journalists in Katsina as part of activities to commemorate the World Consumer Rights Day.

World Consumers Rights Day is being celebrated on 15^thMarch every year. This year’s theme is ‘Fair and Responsible AI for Consumers’.

He explained that fruits ripened with calcium carbide are poisonous and dangerous to human health and have caused diseases in many Nigerians across the country.

He Issued a stern warning that the commission would take legal action against any individuals found using calcium carbide for fruit ripening in the country.

She said: “We are going to reinforce our task force team to go round the markets and if there is any product that violates the rights of consumers, we will withdraw it from the market.”

He added that any individual or groups found wanting would be arrested and punished in accordance with the laws of the federal competition and consumer protection commission.

Earlier, the Head of Consumer Education Department of the FCCPC zonal office, Chukwu Sonny, called on stakeholders to take stringent regulatory actions to stem the dangerous tide of ripening of fruits with calcium carbide.

According to him, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has negatively affected Nigerians and infringed on the rights of many consumers in the country.

He, however, said the partnership between FCCPC and the media was commended, with an assurance that media practitioners would disseminate the vital information to their intended audience. (THISDAY)