Title: FCCPC Clampdown on TLS Visa Centre Raises Bigger Questions About Oversight of Outsourced Consular Services Date Published: 19 June 2025 Description: The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC)\'s dramatic sealing of the TLS Visa Application Centre in Abuja has not only exposed a troubling case of alleged consumer abuse but also revealed a deeper crisis in the regulation of outsourced consular services in Nigeria.The enforcement action, led by FCCPC’s Director of Surveillance and Investigations, Mrs. Boladale Adeyinka, followed complaints dating back to March 2025, involving paid visa services that were reportedly never delivered. Beyond failure to provide services, TLS officials are accused of assaulting both FCCPC operatives and police officers during earlier investigations—an act that violates multiple sections of the FCCPC Act.But beyond the headlines, this case raises a more critical question: How are foreign consulates and their contracted visa centres vetted and monitored? TLS handles visa processing for several high-traffic destinations, yet Nigerians have long complained of arbitrary fees, unresponsive customer service, and opaque operations.The FCCPC’s decision to seal the facility under Section 18(1)(f) of its Act—citing “operations inimical to consumer welfare”—brings to the forefront the lack of accountability mechanisms for private companies tasked with handling sensitive immigration processes.Consumer advocates argue that such firms, which operate under the umbrella of diplomatic partnerships, often escape scrutiny, leaving Nigerians vulnerable to extortion and poor service.With TLS officials now summoned to appear before the FCCPC by Friday, June 20, 2025, the spotlight is not just on one company, but on a flawed system that allows third-party visa agents to operate in regulatory gray zones.The case may become a landmark moment for consumer protection in Nigeria’s foreign travel industry—if followed through with full transparency and reform. Attached Images: 77838caac047d18e49b7862e20902ac46f51de1669076fa0fa6afba1b42be69b.jpg, 77ebc054cfeb0adff83e3473a5eb1415aa771dd551f9bce68a9e726d41086229.jpg Attached Video: None