Sola Salako-Ajulo, Nigeria’s frontline consumer rights advocate, has offered practical steps for Nigerian consumers to defend their rights, drawing from the nation’s competition laws, in her new book, “Protect Yourself: The Naija Guide to Consumer Rights,” launched on Sunday.
In “Protect Yourself: The Naija Guide to Consumer Rights,” which draws from Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018, Salako-Ajulo, founder of the Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON), and a Member of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, explains at the virtual book launch event on Sunday that her goal is to make sure that the knowledge contained in her book is accessible to as many Nigerians as possible in order to grow a “critical mass of enlightened consumers.”
“Today,” Salako-Ajulo says, “consumers have a voice, amplified and democratised by social media, allowing us to share our experiences, our grievances and successes across platforms and even borders. So it has been an inspiring thing to witness where we started from and where we are now in terms of consumer awareness.”
Salako-Ajulo: Social media has amplified voice of Nigerian consumers
The book, designed to break down consumer rights, outlines how consumers can seek redress through steps like keeping digital records and filing complaints with relevant authorities.
During the panellist book review centred on key takeaways from the book, Titilayo Obileye, Technical Assistant on Content Creation for Ekiti State, placed emphasis on documentation as a measure that consumers can take to protect themselves and seek redress.
She advised attendees to store evidence of transactions digitally, emphasising that thorough records can support legal complaints. “I think the most important part is documentation,” Obileye says. “When we document these things, we have screenshots, emails, whatever is related to the transaction in question. First of all, document and make sure that you have enough evidence to prove that your rights have been infringed and you want to take legal action on them,” she says explaining that documentation will aid whatever agency or body that will take up the case.
Obileye further explains how digital documentation is pivotal for consumer redress, a core topic in Salako-Ajulo’s book. Speaking on the challenges of the FCCPA 2018 Act, she states that the true challenge of the Act is in its enforcement, and that is what the book aims to address.
In addition to a call for heightened consumer vigilance, Obileye proposes a multi-step approach for redress: first addressing issues directly with the seller; then escalating to regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC, and, if needed, lodging a formal complaint with the FCCPC.
Obileye suggests that every business, while registering with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), should have a copy of the book to enhance their awareness of consumer protection requirements.
Commenting on the history of consumer protection in Nigeria, Salako-Ajulo underscores the impact of social media on consumer rights awareness. “Thanks to the power of social media, we have seen an incredible shift in consumer awareness,” the book author says.
“Today,” Salako-Ajulo says, “consumers have a voice, amplified and democratised by social media, allowing us to share our experiences, our grievances and successes across platforms and even borders. So it has been an inspiring thing to witness where we started from and where we are now in terms of consumer awareness.”
Despite the increased awareness, Salako-Ajulo observes significant gaps in consumer enlightenment and empowerment. “Many people know they have rights, but they don’t fully understand what those rights are and how to enforce them if they are violated,” she says. Her book seeks to address these gaps with accessible explanations and relatable scenarios.
To broaden access, Salako-Ajulo plans to distribute 50,000 free copies by March 2025, with an initial target of 10,000 by December 31, 2024.
Salako-Ajulo’s goal is to ensure the book serves as a foundational guide to Nigerians and helps in understanding the basic principles of consumer protection in need of guidance on digital documentation, formal complaints, and navigating regulatory bodies like the FCCPC.
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