Consumer Protection Council happy with FG commitment to protecting consumer rights

The Director-General, Consumer Protection Council, Mrs Dupe Atoki, on Monday, expressed satisfaction with the commitment given by the Federal Government toward the protection of consumer rights.

She said this in an interview with State House Press Corps after briefing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the activities of the council.

She said the agency was one that the government was interested in because it supervised the wellbeing of most Nigerians.

The D-G said the council had the opportunity to brief the Vice President of the challenges facing the agency, especially the unpreparedness of businesses to provide value for money and the various strategies the council had to ensure that consumers had value for money.

“I am pleased to report that the Vice President made a commitment to support whatever activity that will bring to succour Nigerians,’’ she said.

Atoki said that the Vice president also reiterated that one of the mantras of the administration was to improve the standard of living of the citizens.

“When you protect the consumers invariably you are ensuring that you do not impoverish them because they get value for money.

“If you do not get value for money you have lost your money, you have lost your earnings.

“I am very pleased with the commitment the Vice President has given and he has assured us that the government will support all activities that we carry out which is in line with our mandate’’ the DG said.

She stated that the agency was prepared to go into the market and ensure that businesses conduct themselves in line with international practices, giving value for money to all consumers in Nigeria.

She said that in the last two years the agency had tried to ginger the consumers about their rights and for them to speak out and complain rather than grumble within themselves about poor services.

She also said that the agency had held some businesses to the responsibilities they were entitled to and would not relent whenever consumers complained.

She observed that some businesses would always want to negate standards but noted that with the current administration in place the agency would ensure that the businesses did not renege.

The Vice President also received a delegation from the British High Commission, Abuja with High Commissioner Paul Arkwright and Minister of State for the Foreign Office and International Development Grant Shapps in attendance.

Shapps told the Press Corps after the meeting that the delegation came to deepen the mutual relationships existing between the United kingdom and Nigeria.

He said the team engaged the Vice President in conversations regarding security, trade and better lives for citizens of both countries.

He said the UK was interested in bringing its new “Energy for Africa” programme to Nigeria for people without access to electricity.

He recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari and Prime Minister David Cameron had met thrice and agreed to deepen the relationships between both countries.

“I think there is a renewed strength of cooperation between our countries,’’ he said.

He said the UK community had collaborated with Nigerian counterparts in funding education, improving healthcare facilities and girl-child skills programme.