The Executive Director Research and Strategy of the Centre for Consumer Concern and Initiative Mr. Olufemi Abioye has advocated a stricter post-product regulatory oversight by authorities.
He said this was predicated on the belief that strong product safety enforcement is necessary to safeguard Nigerian consumers, and a similar vein, promotes fair competition, encourages innovation and instills consumer confidence in safe items that reach the market.
The Director who spoke during an interactive session with newsmen on Consumer protection and post-product monitoring in Osogbo, Osun State Capital noted that “It is undeniable that most Nigerian Consumers deserve the right to unambigous product claim.
Abioye posited that most Nigerians rely substantially on product claims and fitability having been cleared by the regulators and this confidence must be sustained.
He noted that evidently, the problems of inadequate sensitization, low literacy, and regulatory laxity lie at the core of this reality.
Ha stressed that although a responsible manufacturer is supposed to guarantee the safety of its customers, regulators have a greater responsibility to guarantee adherence to production and safety requirements of products.
He emphasised “But what is evident is that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC), the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), and the National Administration of Food Drug and Administration (NAFDAC)—the three main consumer protection regulatory bodies—do not effectively monitor products in the market after they are manufactured or certified for public consumption. Perhaps for lack of adequate funding or manpower.”
“The truth is, some manufacturers will rather spend less to produce a product while hoping to reap a bounty of profit, thus the tendency to compromise product value and stipulated specifications even after obtaining certification or approval of such product. ”
“What is more concerning is the amount of subpar or uncontrolled consumer goods—particularly imported dairy and cosmetics —that are flooding the Nigerian market. There are instances where the labeling on these product is printed in languages other than English, endangering the purchasers’ right to information and ultimately knowledge of what is fit for their health. In the event that the aforementioned scenario results in product harm, it is implausible that a consumer would hold the producer accountable or that the regulator would be able to call for evidence about the product in question.”
