Consumers have a right to complete information on the price, quality, quantity, ingredients and other conditions under which the goods and services they consume are produced. It is only in this way that consumers are able to participate meaningfully in economic life and to exercise their rights.

Information is power. It is only when we have access to information that we take informed decisions about matters that affect our lives, our communities and indeed our country. But it is not enough merely to have access to information. In order for information to make the desired impact, it must be relevant to our needs. In addition, we must know how to use information in order to make the desired impact.Merely complaining about poor quality goods or services without directing our concerns to the responsible service producer or provider is unlikely to effect change. We must also follow up on the complaints we lodge with service providers. If our complaints or concerns are not addressed, we must raise them with the next in line of seniority or appropriate outside bodies. This is the only way through which to seek redress and encourage accountability among service providers.

This implies that service providers have redress mechanisms within their organisations. Where redress mechanisms do not exist, consumers must demand that they are put in place and observed.

The fact that consumers have access to information about goods and services does not necessarily mean that information is easily made available. Sometimes, even in a democratic society, it is difficult to force service providers to make information available to consumers. When the release of information necessary for the exercise of our rights is made impossible, it is up to us as consumers, to demand that such information is made available.

Generally, consumer rights are connected to one another. One right cannot be viewed in isolation from another or from responsibilities that come with rights. As such, redress is better realised when consumers organise themselves into collectives to press for their rights. For example, service providers who thrive on consumer ignorance or apathy are more likely to listen to a group of unhappy consumers than one individual. Otherwise, the service provider can lose reputation and business if the group decides to buy goods and services elsewhere or boycott the business. Consumer collectives can also negotiate better sale deals with service providers while individuals may find this difficult or need to develop personal relations with service providers, often over long periods of time.

(sourced from http://www.ncf.org.za)

Amid the further spread of novel covid-19 in Nigeria it is instructive to purchase an item to be used by each household but buying beyond what you need now is quite an unacceptable and government needs to wade in as soon as possible,

Government through it agencies need to urgently come out to implement price control in all the states and local government, with the new federal competition and consumer protection commission act 2019, Government through FCCPC can regulate the price of the product.

Nigerians are used to panic buying of fuel not buying of provisions, toiletries and food items, the challenge of panic buying is the price hike that will follow it. a sanitizer that is expected to sell at #500 is now sold at #1,800, the social pressure of Covid 19 is biting harder in Nigeria that each family cannot help it when they see other people buying erratically and purchasing too much stuff, people feel like they should buy too.

According to Bussinesday.ng, a lady called Bidemi said, my mother is asthmatic and I have bought 10 packs of inhaler for her just in case the situation gets worse and prices go up. at Savetheconsumers.org we canvass to Nigeria government to introduce a limit for purchase on fast-moving consumer goods and direct price control on hand sanitizer and face mask.

There is must be continuous education that is no reason to stockpile consumables and food supplies beyond a particular limit. We must all shop responsibly so that everyone has access to the essentials, shops in the UK such as Tesco is allowing shoppers to buy just two packs of certain items such as dried pasta, tinned tomatoes and anti-bacterial cleaning products. Sainsbury's and Asda are limiting customers to three of anyone products, controlling excessive buying in Nigeria will not be out of place in Nigeria.