The South-South zonal Co-ordinator of Consumer Protection
Council (CPC), Prince Chinonye Ikegwuruka, has identified challenges facing the
council’s efforts to rid the Nigerian market of substandard products.

The zonal co-ordinator who stated this in an interview with
The Tide in his office in Port Harcourt last Friday said that financial constraint
had continued to slow down CPC’s speed and effort to protect the consumers of
Nigerian goods.

Ikegwuruka noted that funding from the federal government
was not enough for the enormous task ahead of the council, saying that
awareness must be regular to reduce the level of adulterated products in the
market.

“The regular we police the market the better for consumers.
Although the level of substandard products has been reduced in the South-South
zone more still needs to be done, he said.

He reiterated that CPC had only one vehicle which was not
enough to adequately police the market shops and companies on a daily bases.

The zonal co-ordinator also noted that CPC had handled so
many cases between the consumers and the companies, saying that the council in all
cases made the companies to respect the rights of the consumers, adding that in
these cases, consumers walked out of CPC with a smile and renewed confidence in
the council.

He stressed that CPC was ready to partner with the media to
create adequate awareness, noting that most consumers die in silence due to
ignorance of the responsibilities of CPC in protecting their rights.

Meanwhile, some of the consumers who were interviewed
through the phone confirmed the protection of CPC to their rights in cases of
rights violation by different companies.

A consumer, Mrs Joy P commended CPC for facilitating the
supply of goods that were denied her by NAFCON six months after she paid for
the  goods.;

According to her, CPC helped me to retrieve my goods which I
paid for without supply. The council is doing greatly. They helped me and other
people who had problem and had nobody to solve it for them.