Fed Govt takes consumer protection message to markets
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has begun a market sensitisation programme to protect consumers. The programme will take off in the Southwest markets to checkmate unfair trade
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has begun a market sensitisation programme to protect consumers.
The programme will take off in the Southwest markets to checkmate unfair trade practices, teach consumers their rights and make businesses perform their obligations.
Speaking during an engagement yesterday with traders and other stakeholders at the popular Computer Village in Ikeja, FCCPC’s Zonal Coordinator for the Southwest Zonal Office, Dr. Olubunmi Dorcas Otti, said: “This street level sensitisation will involve direct engagement with traders, market associations, consumers and other stakeholders to promote ethical business practice, enforce the FCCPA 2018 Act and protect the welfare of Nigerian consumers.
“We call it street-level sensitisation because it is one of the bold steps of the commission to carry business awareness sensitisation and Consumer awareness sensitisation to meet people where they are.
“Starting from the Computer Village market today, we shall proceed to the Alaba Market next and then to the Trade Fair market, then to all other big markets in the Southwest to educate businesses of their obligation to consumers and the implications of violation as stipulated in the FCCPA 2018 Act and teach consumers their rights also.”
Decrying the low level consumer education in the society, Dr. Otti said: “We believe that consumer education is consumer protection and so when a consumer is empowered, that is the first means of defence against market exploitation.
“From the complaints that we receive, you will see that consumers do not know their rights.”
Appealing to consumers to channel their complaints to the FCCPC, the Southwest zonal coordinator said: “We need consumers to talk to us. They should not leave it to God but leave it for FCCPC because we have been empowered by the law.”
The President of the Phone and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDA), Mr. Ebiem Afamefuna Samuel, expressed satisfaction with how FCCPC relates with the traders.
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“We have been collaborating with the agency and shall continue to work with them for the benefits of Nigeria,” he said.
The association’s president decried the effect of foreign exchange on the members’ businesses.
He said the forex cost is invariably passed to consumers, adding that once there is stability, businesses will run smoothly.
Samuel urged the Federal Government to make forex readily available to the traders and reduce duty charges on some of the imported products to ease the strain on consumers.
The outgoing chairman of PAPDA, Mr. Ifeanyi Akubue, said the association has been working with the FCCPC since the inception of the agency.
He added that one of the traders faced the challenge of inferior imported products.
