The Ondo State Competition and Consumer Protection Agency (ODCCPA) has called for a stronger partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, to intensify public awareness of consumer rights, combat fake and substandard products, and promote responsible business practices across the state.
The agency also disclosed that it was prioritising public education, stakeholder engagement and consumer awareness before commencing regulatory monitoring and enforcement activities.
The new Chairman of the agency, Mr Oluyemi Fasipe, made this known during a courtesy visit to the leadership of the NUJ Ondo State Council at the Press Centre in Akure where he emphasised the importance of the media in educating consumers, exposing unfair business practices and holding businesses accountable.
Fasipe described the Media as indispensable partners in consumer protection, noting that their ability to inform the public through radio, television, newspapers and online platforms would help residents make informed purchasing decisions and seek redress when their rights were violated.
“Our purpose today is simple: to work with you to build a more informed and protected consumer community in Ondo State,” he said.
He explained that consumer protection covered virtually every aspect of daily life, including food, household products, petroleum products and services, adding that consumers deserved value for their money while businesses should operate fairly and transparently.
According to him, the ODCCPA law provides the legal framework for protecting consumers, promoting fair competition and addressing unfair business practices in the state.
He stressed that the agency’s success would not be measured solely by inspections, shop closures or prosecutions, but also by its ability to prevent consumer abuse, improve compliance and encourage businesses to adopt responsible practices.
“The success of this agency will not be measured only by inspections, closures and prosecutions. It will also be measured by our ability to prevent abuse, improve compliance and promote responsible business practices,” Fasipe stated.
He added that the agency’s approach was to educate consumers and businesses first, investigate complaints and enforce the law where necessary.
“An informed consumer is harder to exploit, while a business that understands its obligations is more likely to comply,” he said.
Fasipe urged NUJ to support consumer education through public service announcements, awareness articles, media briefings and other programmes that would inform residents about their rights and responsibilities.
Responding the Ondo State Chairman of the NUJ, Prince Leke Adegbite, who commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for strengthening the agency in the best interest of the public, described the task before the agency as huge.
Adegbite charged the agency to work closely with other government’s agencies such as NAFDAC, SON and security operatives to raid the state of fake and substandard products.
The NUJ Chairman also called for proper funding of the agency to enable it deliver on its mandates.
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