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Lawyer calls for adequate protection of consumer rights
A former Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Douglas Ogbankwa, on Thursday called for adequate protection of consumer rights to justify public confidence in governments.
“Now is the time for consumer rights advocacy to stop fleecing of citizens and make sure utility providers and sellers of goods go by the books,” Ogbankwa was quoted as saying.
He called for adequate measures to end all forms of maltreatment of consumers of goods and services.
“For instance, if your flight, local or international, is cancelled, you are entitled to accommodation and food vouchers once there is clear evidence that you have no place to go.
“If your flight, local or international is cancelled, you are entitled to up to a thousand dollars depending on your losses.
“If you miss your flight and the airline is flying the next day, you have priority over other passengers for the next day.
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“All of these are standard ICAO Regulations, but you may require legal fireworks to push these rights,’’ he said.
Ogbankwa advised consumers to insist on their rights.
According to him, an electricity distribution company cannot stop power supply to a consumer unless such a customer has been issued a 30-day disconnection notice.
“In addition, when there is a dispute between an electricity distribution company and a consumer, the consumer cannot be disconnected until the dispute is resolved.
“Besides, a consumer is within his rights to arrest any official of the electricity distribution company who attempts or does an illegal disconnection of electricity,” he said.
Ogbankwa called on consumers of goods and services to be knowledgeable about their rights and take advantage of legal provisions to seek protection of the rights.
