Abuja (Sundiata Post) — As part of efforts to support initiatives aimed at protecting Nigerian consumers, the European Union (EU) has pledged to offer assistance to the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) in an effort to improve Nigeria’s competitiveness.
The support, the European Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Michel Arrion, said, is necessitated by the dynamics of global competitiveness, which has made most transactions to be effected digitally.
He added that Nigerian consumers must be protected and get value of their transactions, given the rising challenges of digital economy.
“In Europe,10 percent of transaction services are online,and within the next five years,it is estimated that 40 percent of the services and transactions would be done online. Nigeria is a strategic market and assisting CPC would also promote competitiveness of Nigeria products, and ensuring quality is prioritised in digital economy within Nigeria and the sub-region remains key for us.
“Specific support to CPC is needed to promote Nigeria as a strategic partner,and it is related to the Work we do in Nigeria in regards to quality. What the Consumer wants in value for money,in relation to the quality of service,” Michel Arrion told newsmen in Abuja at the commemoration of World Consumer’s Day in Abuja.
In her earlier submission, the Director General of CPC, Dupe Atoki, spoke on the theme of this year’s World Consumer Day: ‘Digital and Digital Economy’.
“The consumer abuse for digital process has exposed us to dynamics of digital process, although a more scientifically challenging redress.
“On the other hand, the complaints are the same. We must have the capacity to identify the hackers, who abuse people’s rights, and also exploit them, while working with relevant government agencies,” the Director General assured.
She suggested to consumers to always protect their data and ensure private information regarding their online transactions are not availed to invisible people, who could exploit and abuse their digital transactions.
Meanwhile, the high point of event was the decoration of the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, as the Nigerian Consumer Ambassador.
Represented by the wife of the Nasarawa State governor, Salamatu Al Makura, the wife of the President said she would use her position as Nigerian Consumer Ambassador to ensure large percentage of Nigerians consumers know their rights and get the right redress in their transactions.