Ibadan – Many consumers in Ibadan metropolis on Tuesday said that their rights were daily being trampled on without any redress, even as the world marks World Consumer Rights Day.
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consumers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews that their rights could only be protected in a society where the people are aware and sensitised.
A teacher, Mrs Oluwatoyin Adebayo, said that she was aware that such rights existed but had not seen it being enforced in the several cases of infractions witnessed.
She said that many people living in the metropolis were not aware that as consumers they had certain rights on goods and services paid for or that an agency exists to seek such redress.
Similarly, a journalist, Mr Jide Jegede, said that the rights were non-existent, saying Nigerian consumers have been exploited severally by traders and service providers.
” Look at the exploitation of consumers by the telecoms outfit in the country, through unsolicited calls and SMS to mention few, which has resulted in deductions of several hundreds of naira from consumers’ lines.
“Many have also suffered from the service of electricity distribution companies. They pay hugely for services they did not enjoy.
“Many have even purchased goods and services, sought redress and were denied justice,” he said.
Jegede said that people’s awareness of such rights was low because sensitisation on such had been poor.
Also speaking, a student, Yinka Adeyemo, told NAN that the country was a place where any thing was always possible.
Adeyemo, who is widely travelled, said that the consumer was revered in other countries while reviled in Nigeria.
NAN reports that the World Consumer Rights Day was first observed on March 15, 1983 and had since become an important occasion for mobilising citizens’ action.
Consumer organisations around the world use materials produced by Consumers International to generate local initiatives and media coverage for their work over the coming year
Among the basic rights to be enjoyed under the World Consumer Rights are the rights to safety, information, choice, be heard, satisfaction of basic needs, redress, education and a healthy environment.(NAN)