By BONIFACE AKARAH

A former Head of the Human Rights Unit of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Steve Onwuasoanya, has called for an amendment of Nigeria’s constitution to expressly recognise consumer rights as fundamental rights, arguing that stronger legal protection is necessary to safeguard citizens from harmful products and unfair market practices.

Onwuasoanya made the call while delivering a keynote presentation at an event marking World Consumer Rights Day in Lagos, organised by the Institute for Consumer Rights and Product Liability Protection (ICRP).

Speaking on the topic, “The Intersection of International Human Rights Framework and Consumer Rights: The Nigerian Morass,” the legal expert said consumer protection should no longer be treated merely as a commercial issue but as a core human rights obligation of the state.

“Consumer rights are fundamentally human rights because they relate directly to human dignity, health, safety and the ability of citizens to make informed decisions about the goods and services they consume,” he said.

According to him, several international legal instruments already establish principles that implicitly protect consumers, including the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

He noted that provisions guaranteeing the right to health, access to information and an adequate standard of living form the foundation of modern consumer protection frameworks.

“For example, when a company sells contaminated food, it is not just a violation of consumer rights; it is a violation of the fundamental right to health,” Onwuasoanya said.

The keynote speaker explained that international frameworks such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights place responsibility on governments to regulate businesses and prevent corporate practices that harm consumers.

“These principles establish the duty of the state to protect citizens from human rights abuses by businesses and require companies to exercise due diligence to prevent harm through their products or services,” he said.

Turning to Nigeria’s legal framework, Onwuasoanya acknowledged progress made through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, which established the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

However, he said the existing system still faces major implementation challenges, including weak inter-agency coordination, limited coverage of the informal economy and high barriers to justice for consumers seeking redress.

“Nigeria has made significant legislative progress, but the implementation gap remains a major obstacle to effective consumer protection,” he said.

The legal expert also identified low consumer awareness, lengthy court processes and high litigation costs as barriers preventing many Nigerians from enforcing their rights.

He proposed a number of reforms to strengthen consumer protection in the country, including constitutional recognition of consumer rights, a unified national consumer protection code and stronger enforcement mechanisms.

He also recommended the creation of specialised consumer small claims courts, expanded alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and legal aid programmes to support consumers pursuing claims.

Other proposals included integrating consumer rights education into school curricula, strengthening collaboration among regulatory agencies and encouraging private sector compliance through stricter accountability measures.

Onwuasoanya said empowering consumers with knowledge and access to justice is essential for building a fair marketplace.

“As we commemorate World Consumer Rights Day, we must recognise that consumer protection is not merely an economic issue but a human rights imperative,” he said.

He added that Nigeria’s efforts to align consumer protection with international human rights standards could provide valuable lessons for other developing economies facing similar regulatory challenges.