Abstract

This study examined the issues and challenges of consumer protection in Nigeria from the point of view of the regulatory agencies charged with the responsibility of protecting the rights of consumers. Anchored on the Corporate Social responsibility theory, the study adopted a qualitative approach (in-depth-Interview) to elicit information from twelve purposively selected representatives of four Consumer Rights regulatory agencies - Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency For Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Federal Environment Protection Agency (FEPA). Findings revealed that the level of consumer awareness in Nigeria is relatively low. Findings also revealed that even though there exist some regulatory mechanism to protect the consumers, there are still evidence of corporate neglect that has been extended beyond poor quality of core products; inadequate consumer education and information and poor or absence of after sales service delivery among others. It is recommended, among others, that there should be sustained public enlightenment and education that is aimed at promoting the interest of the consumers in Nigeria.

Key Words:  Consumer, Consumerism, Regulatory Mechanisms, Regulatory Agencies

*Charles Chinedu Onwunali, Ph.D. is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.

**Shaibu Hassan Husseini is of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.

^JCMR Journal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 10, No. 1, April 2018,   191 – 202