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CPC Deliberates on Regulatory Policies to Protect eConsumers
Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has said it would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to deliberate on government’s regulatory policies to protect e-consumer to enlighten them on their rights.
Mr Babatunde Irukera, director-general CPC, said this at the e-Commerce Consumer Protection Forum organised by the Association for Public Policy Analysis (APPA), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Abuja.
The theme of the forum was “Making Digital Marketing Fairer in Nigeria: Perspectives of Electricity, Banking and Telecommunication Sector’’.
Irukera was represented by Mrs Mercy Ogwu, assistant director, Consumer Education Department of CPC.
According to him, e-commerce is a business transaction conducted electronically on the internet and has many advantages compared to conventional methods.
He said it was being faced with challenges such as cyber-crime, data theft and the like which led to the financial loss, invasion of privacy and lack of adequate online redress mechanism among others.
The director-general said e-Commerce remained a topical issue in developing nations because of the complexity associated with digital marketing.
He said this was particularly in Nigeria where infrastructure, issue of trust and inefficiency of online services posed a great challenge.
According to him, the forum will proffer solution to these challenges to ensure a fairer digital marketplace.
Irukera implored participants at the forum to focus on e-consumer abuses and lapses in the identified sectors and proffer solutions that would benefit consumers.
Mr AbdullahI Adamu, executive chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), in his remarks, pledged the council’s support to consumer benefit and protection.
“The Council is interested in supporting efforts that will make citizens that are the e-consumers benefit and contribute to provision of efficient services by banks, telecommunications and electricity operators.
“We shall continue to encourage our people to take advantage of online banking concept that has made banking easy.’’
In his address, Mr Princewill Okorie, the National President, APPA reiterated the negative impressions of e-consumer offences to the growth of the nation.
According to Okorie, an appraisal of the travail of Nigerian e-consumers presently reveals impoverishment of the people instead of improving their well being.
He said regulatory agencies, rather than protect consumers were always willing to encourage the increase in the price paid by consumers without proper action in ensuring consumer satisfaction.
Okorie called on the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to ensure an effective monitoring and enforcement of measures that would protect consumer rights.
This year’s Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership lecture will focus on Governance, Standardization and cybersecurity in artificial intelligence era.
The lecture which will herald Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Awards (ABoICT Lecture 2025) hold on May 24, 2025 at Four Points by Sheraton and will be delivered by Prof. Adewale Obadare, Chief Visionary Officer, Digital Encode – Cybersecurity and GRC Expert.
The sixteenth edition of the award ceremony according Ken Nwogbo, editor-in-chief of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek the organizers of the event, “is a special edition to recognise and celebrate organizations and individuals in the ICT industry that have contributed to the growth of the sector.
“Most of these organizations and individuals have consistently being voted by our readers as leaders in their areas of operations and we have decided to reward them in this special edition, tag: ‘ICT Growth Edition 2025’ he said,”.
He added that, an AI governance framework outlines policies, principles, and practices to guide the ethical and responsible development and deployment of AI technologies, ensuring transparency, accountability, and fairness.
“In the AI era, cybersecurity faces both new threats and opportunities, as AI’s capabilities are used by both defenders and attackers to launch sophisticated attacks and defenses.
“This requires a proactive approach, including AI-powered security tools, robust data security, and ethical AI development, emphasizing real-time monitoring, threat intelligence, and collaboration among cybersecurity professionals and AI researchers.
“Artificial intelligence transforms cybersecurity by automating responses to risks, detecting unusual activity, and even foreseeing possible dangers before they occur.
“While AI has various perks, such as better efficiency and faster risk identification, it also has challenges. Without proper oversight, these systems can be misused or make errors. Strong governance and ethical frameworks ensure AI technologies are used responsibly and effectively.,” he said.
The Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Distinguished (ABoICT Lecture 2024) is designed to explore efforts to put Nigeria on the global Information and Communications Technologies map.
The lecture series however is reserved for distinguished achievers in the ICT sector.
Past lecturers included Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, then executive vice chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC); Uche Orji, managing director/chief executive officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA); Biodu Omoniyi, Managing Director/CEO, VDT Communications; Ayotunde Coker, Managing Director, Rack Centre Limited; Peter Adedayo Arogundade, managing director and chief executive officer, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited; Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, founder, Hyperspace & NeuraL AI and John Obaro, CEO and founder of Systemspecs; Prof. Isa Pantanmi, minister of Communications and Digital Economy; among others.
Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and president of Dangote Refinery, has insisted that the ‘cabal’ in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is still fighting against the success of his 650,000 barrels per day plant.
Aliko Dangote
Dangote disclosed this, according to Semafor, a global news platform, at an investor forum in Lagos at the weekend.
He said, “For a very, very long time, those that have made a lot of money from government-subsidised oil imports into Nigeria were the ones trying to sabotage the $20 billion worth of refinery situated in Lekki, Lagos.”
He further stressed that “those groups have funded resistance to the Bola Tinubu government’s removal of petrol subsidies and are opposed to the refinery operating easily in the country.”
However, Dangote was confident that the battle between him and the groups would be won, priding himself on being a long-time fighter.
“We’re fighting, and the fight is not yet finished. But I have been fighting all my life, and I am ready and 100 percent sure I will win at the end of the day,” he was quoted.
Recall that Dangote Refinery kicked off the sale of petrol in September 2024, which had led to a significant drop in fuel imports into Nigeria.
In May 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the removal of the fuel subsidy during his inauguration speech.
Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has welcomed the decision of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCT) upholding the $220 million fine imposed on Meta Platforms Inc. by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
In a statement signed by its President, Mal. Kabiru A. Yusuf, and General Secretary, Mrs. Angela Emuwa, NPAN described the ruling as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to enforce digital accountability and protect the rights of its citizens.
“The decision affirms the importance of compelling global digital platforms to adhere to Nigeria’s laws and respect the rights of users,” the association said.
NPAN noted that the fine, resulting from a 30-month investigation spanning 2021 to 2023, was imposed due to Meta’s alleged unauthorized data sharing and discriminatory practices affecting Nigerian users.
The association also emphasized that Nigeria’s regulatory action aligns with global trends, citing similar penalties imposed on Meta in Europe, as well as actions against other tech giants such as Amazon, TikTok, Google, and Apple.
As an advocate for media freedom and fair digital practices, NPAN reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding intellectual property and ensuring fair remuneration for publishers in the evolving digital landscape.
It further urged sustained collaboration among government agencies, civil society, and industry players to strengthen Nigeria’s digital regulatory environment.
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