Chioma Ezike
Consumers have been advised to master their rights and procedure to follow when they did not get value for money paid on products or services.
They should also ensure that they demand and obtain receipt as evidence of payment for products or services.
The Zonal Coordinator, South West Zone of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, Mrs. Margaret Aboluwade handed down the advise during a live Radio Interactive on Radio One 103.5 FM Lagos in continuation of commemoration of World Consumer Rights Day which was celebrated on March 15 , 2025, with the theme, “A Just Transition To Sustainable Life Style.”
She assured the consumers that FCCPC is always available to assist them in seeking redress after all the efforts to get refund or replacement from the seller or the service providers proves abortive while assuring that the FCCPC also has the interest of the service providers and product sellers at heart by ensuring that both parties get justice.
Mrs Aboluwade who regretted that many consumers do not know what to do when they did not get value for money paid on a service or buy defective products and further emphasised the need for product manufacturers to clearly state the functions of their products in different languages as this would help consumers in making the right choice while the consumer ought to have known what they wanted before purchasing a product or make payment for a service.
Speaking on the theme of the Consumer Rights Day, The Head Corporate Affairs Department in FCCPC, Mr Ukason Henry-Kissinger enjoined Nigerians to prioritise their needs and avoid wastages , they should also recycle some items to other uses to save cost. and save the environment.
Mr Ukason further explained that the FCCPC as part of its responsibilities of enlightening the consumers also celebrated younger consumer rights day and regretted that many channels have been opened up for consumer education including the consumer handbook and regretted that most Nigerians do not read.
Contributing Mr Humphrey Akam Emmanuel, Head, Consumer and Business Education Department urged the consumers to ensure they get in touch with the service providers or the sellers and can only escalate the matter to FCCPC if the issue was not resolved pointing out that FCCPC is doing all it could to ensure that consumers are well educated and informed on their rights and these services are free of charge.