ABUJA – Consumer Protection Council (CPC) on Monday said that the amendment of the council’s bill would enhance its ability to protect consumers that shop online.
The Director of Public Relations, CPC, Mr Abiodun Obimuyiwa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the bill is already in the House of Representative.
According to him, the council has introduced provisions for online marketing and transactions entered into electronically via the internet in the bill with a view to protect consumers.
Obimuyiwa said these provisions were not included in the old bill and when passed into law.
The bill, when passed, would prevent internet fraud and identity theft which has become endemic in the virtual environment.
“What we are saying is that the amendment bill has been placed before the National Assembly for approval.
“ If it sails through, there are specific provisions within the amendment that will guarantee enhanced protection for consumers.
“ Such provisions that will protect the consumers that do online transactions, which are lacking completely in the existing enactment,’’ Obimuyiwa said.[eap_ad_2]
He told NAN that the council had not recorded many cases of complaints from customers who shop online and the few received had been resolved using the Consumer Protection Act.
“ We have a department that deals with customer’s complaints and so far, we had just few cases of complaints from customers.
“Jumia is one of the most popular online markets that people use and most of the complaints by customers regarding them have been resolved using the Act.
“ We have been trying our best to protect consumers but when the bill is amended, it will enhance our ability to do more for consumers,’’ he said.
NAN recalls that the CPC submitted the bill for amendment in 2003 and it was first read on the floor of the senate on Oct. 2003, second on Nov. 2003 and third on April 2008.
“ The Director General of the Council, Mrs Dupe Atoki, on Nov.12, 2013 paid a courtesy visit to the Speaker, House of Representative, MrAminuTambuwal.
“ The amendment is necessitated due to the emerging technological changes, new trading methods, patterns and agreements that have brought challenges to consumers of goods and services in Nigeria.’’(NAN)[eap_ad_3]
