C' River Consumer Protection Agency Sensitises Traders On Rights
Ben Gbor
The Cross River State Consumer Protection Agency have organised a town hall meeting to sensitise leaders of market unions and traders in Calabar on consumer safety and rights.
The Director General (DG) of the agency, Dr. Charles Ushie, who declared the programme opened, said the sensitisation was necessitated to create awareness and educate the traders on consumer rights and activities of the agency.
He admonished the traders to avail the agency free access to carry out inspections each time they visit their business premises, appealing to them to discourage the practice of compulsory price fixing on commodities so as to make the market friendly for both the traders and consumers.
Similarly, Dr Kanabe Uba, a director in the agency, lectured the union leaders on consumer right and the effect of hazardous product to health. She condemned the practice of the market unions designating days for traders to sell in the market.
The director noted that the practice give rise to scarcity of commodities in the market and as well as hike in price. "This practice makes the market unfriendly for the consumers. We must know that just like the traders, consumer also have their rights and responsibilities.
"Consumer protection is a collective responsibility which is why the traders and consumers must be vigilant to certify proper packaging, expiration dates and quality of brands before purchasing them,: she admonished.
She listed the consumer responsibility to include, thinking independently, awareness, informing regulatory authorities about their dissatisfaction in products they buy, maintaining a clean environment and appropriate disposal of refuse.
Also, Mr. Neji Abang, who is also a director in the Agency, spoke against fake, expired and adulterated goods. He told the unions that agency has the mandate and right to lawfully prosecute traders found selling expired and adulterated products. He noted that circulation of substandard and expired products in time past has resulted to unwanted loss of lives.
On his part, Barr. Paul Adinya emphasised on the need to dispose expired and substandard products from the market shelves and destroyed to avoid human consumption.
He advised that drinks, packed food, tin food, bottle water, biscuits, cream and every human consumables that are displayed, especially in big shops, supermarkets and stores should be properly checked by the end users before purchase.
However, the union leaders complained that businesses were being affected by government policies, especially high and double taxation. They appealed for government intervention to mitigate the price of transportation which they noted, will crash the prices of goods and services. Present at the town hall meeting were leaders of cosmetic traders, leaders of Etim Edem market union, leaders of Akim market Union, women leaders of Atakpa market, supermarket owners.
