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  • The gas cylinder is used in many homes, schools, hotels and different places where humans reside. In as much as the gas is used in cooking and in factory work, it is equally dangerous when poorly managed.

    Gas cylinders if poorly managed has the capacity of destroying human life and materials.

    Today we will be focusing on gas cylinders used for home cooking.

    Many Nigerian homes use gas cylinders for their cooking activities. But how the cylinder is managed is dependent on the information available to the consumer.

    Today we want to give you tips which will help you in properly managing your gas systems.

    1.) Always ensure that your cylinder is kept bout side the house. Do not put the cylinder inside the kitchen.

    2.) Ensure that the cylinder is approved by SON.

    3.) Ensure that the hose are industry standard and approved by SON.

    4.) Also ensure that the regulator is approved by SON.

    5.) Always inspect your gas system before use to ensure that there are no leakages.

    6.) Ensure that only certified gas technicians handle your gas supply and connection.

    7.) Don't leave children to handle the gas.

    8.) Always turn the regulator off, when the gas isn't in use.

    9.) Area where gas is in use should be properly ventilated.

    10.) Always check the nobs in the burner.

    11.) If you perceive gas leaks, please do not touch anything. If the cylinder is outside the building find a way to get to it and turn off the regulator. Immediately call fire experts.

    If you have further questions about how to handle your gas systems, feel free to communicate with us, www.savetheconsumers.org. We are here for you.

  • Hardly does a day go bye without millions of Nigerians consuming rice. This high demand has taken a bad turn due to unfair business practices of certain individuals who have decided to flood the market with plastic rice. 

    We must commend the Nigerian authorities who have been on top of the game by preventing this kind of rice into our markets. It is still important for consumers to be aware of what is trending in the plastic rice saga as this will aid in educating consumers about the dangers of this plastic rice.

    It has become paramount that consumers will have to take measures to ascertain fake rice from the wholesome rice. The challenge is that these fake rice is mixed up with the wholesome rice making it difficult to separate.
    Never the less, it is still important for consumers to verify the quality of rice they purchase. The moment you spot the likelihood of fake rice, you are best protected to avoid consuming it.

    HOW THEN IS THE PLASTIC RICE PRODUCED?
    Potato starch gets mixed with toxic plastic, synthetic resin, and then formed into rice-shaped kernels. Finally the grains are steamed with a typical rice aroma. Doctors have emphatically warned against consuming the artificial product: three full portions apparently contain as much plastic as there is in a little plastic bag. That's alarming!

    WHAT CAN CONSUMERS DO TO STAY SAFE?
    Many concerned consumers in Nigeria have been asking if there are any solution for consumers to tell the difference between authentic rice and manipulated one? Well, yes there are tricks that can be applied. With these outlined simple tricks you can test whether your rice is wholesome and plastic-free:

    The Water Test: Pour a tablespoon of uncooked rice into a glass with cold water and stir it vigorously. If the rice all sinks to the bottom of the glass, it's fine. If the grains float up to the surface, be careful! There could be danger there.

    Fire Test: Try setting a little bit of your rice on fire with a match or lighter. If it starts burning right away and smells like burning plastic, then you know what to do! (Do not eat it!)

    The Mortar and Pestle Test: When you crush a few grains of rice with a mortar and pestle they should be reduced to a fine, white, starchy powder. But with artificial rice, you will see a light yellow discoloration instead.

    The Mold Test: If you want to know for sure whether your cooked rice is quite safe, put a small quantity into an airtight container and leave it in a warm place. Within a couple of days it will have gotten moldy. Only fake rice stays mold-free.

    If you know anyone trading plastic rice, be civic by reporting those individuals to the authorities. You could be saving the life of a loved one. Let’s work together for a wonderful consumer society.www.savetheconsumers.org

  • A philosopher once said " that the birth of a child signifies GODS desire for the world to continue without end." Children are the strength of the future. The mistakes of the past are to be made perfect in the minds of the children. Children are the torch bearers for a future unknown. To neglect a child or poorly develop a child, is to neglect the future of an economy. To embezzle funds meant for the empowerment of Children is to create a bleak future for the economy.

    According to a recent united nations statistics, over 15 million children in Nigeria are victims of child labour, a further population of the children are poorly developed by parents and guardians. This statistics produces an unpalatable situation for our economy.

    The quality of care children receive in a society ultimately defines how successful that society will be in years to come. Society cannot abandon its children, the abandoned children will in future harm the society that abandoned them. When children are not properly formed through sound moral etiquettes, and empowering societal values, the negative side of society will influence their minds to act otherwise.

    Today, so many children have been converted by terrorists, armed gangs, political thugs, prostitutes, thieves, fraudsters and assassins.

    There are many Nigerian kids who are exposed to harmful products. There are children who do not feed properly. There are many children who go to bed hungry, without hope of where food will come from the following day.

    If poor services offered to children are allowed to continue, our society will be setting its self up for disaster. This is not a time to keep mute. If society is determined to move forward, developing the minds of children is Paramount. Developing a program for the development of children is inexcusable.

    Society and leaders should be upset when a child who should be studying is hawking or engaged into force labour.

    There are many Nigerian children who are ill prepared to handle the demands of the future. This is a call to all Nigerians. Our leaders, we need to think, we need to brainstorm. When we get our developmental structures for child care in the country, the rewards will be for society.

    This is the time for a reform on children's welfare in Nigeria. State and local government authorities should be focused on improving the standard of empowerment and knowledge children are exposed to. The better exposed children are, the more civilised society becomes.

    Let's celebrate the children's day to come by demanding better wellbeing for the Children of Nigeria. GOD bless the Nigerian Child.

  •  

    As the world celebrates world environment day on the 5th of June, 2017, save the consumers is equally not left out in the celebration.

    In connecting consumers to nature, we have decided to focus on sensitizing consumers in Nigeria about the dangers of open defecation and why it is important for us to stand up against it.

    What is open defecation?
    Open defecation refers to the practice whereby people go out in fields, bushes, forests, open bodies of water, or other open spaces rather than using the toilet to empty solid wastes from the body.

    It is true that toilet facilities are inadequate for so many Nigerians. UN statistics states that over 50 million Nigerians do not have access to clean toilets.
    Defecating in public places destroys the beauty of nature. It also limits recreational spaces. Places with high defecation rates have limited visitation by tourists. Defecation also causes health challenges for children. Plants and water sources are contaminated as a result of open defecation.

    Let's learn to use toilets. Above all, keeping them clean is paramount. So many people have formed the habit of defecating by corners of buildings, gutters, behind flowers and in uncompleted buildings.

    Let's keep our environment beautiful. Let's learn to do the right things always. Demand that your community toilet is kept clean. Insist on public toilets kept clean at all times.
    Good environment is your right as a consumer. A good environment helps consumers to live successfully.
    A clean and healthy environment is the consumers paradise to successful living

  •  

    As the world celebrates world environment day on the 5th of June, 2017, save the consumers is equally not left out in the celebration.

    In connecting consumers to nature, we have decided to focus on sensitizing consumers in Nigeria about the dangers of open defecation and why it is important for us to stand up against it.

    What is open defecation?
    Open defecation refers to the practice whereby people go out in fields, bushes, forests, open bodies of water, or other open spaces rather than using the toilet to empty solid wastes from the body.

    It is true that toilet facilities are inadequate for so many Nigerians. UN statistics states that over 50 million Nigerians do not have access to clean toilets.
    Defecating in public places destroys the beauty of nature. It also limits recreational spaces. Places with high defecation rates have limited visitation by tourists. Defecation also causes health challenges for children. Plants and water sources are contaminated as a result of open defecation.

    Let's learn to use toilets. Above all, keeping them clean is paramount. So many people have formed the habit of defecating by corners of buildings, gutters, behind flowers and in uncompleted buildings.

    Let's keep our environment beautiful. Let's learn to do the right things always. Demand that your community toilet is kept clean. Insist on public toilets kept clean at all times.
    Good environment is your right as a consumer. A good environment helps consumers to live successfully.
    A clean and healthy environment is the consumers paradise to successful living

  • WHY TEACH CONSUMER EDUCATION?

    Save the consumers cares for the Nigerian Consumer. We all need consumer education on a variety of subject matters. The more we know about product safety, the better society becomes.

    We live in a consumer society. Consumption is an important part of our everyday life and uses up a significant proportion of our money and of our time.

    Yet, for some, the term Consumer Education has a negative overtone - encouraging people to consume more. To the contrary, Consumer Education is about promoting an understanding of the structures and systems within the market. Evidence suggests that many adults are not only unaware of how their individual consumer habits can affect the economy, the environment and society, but that many are also inadequately equipped to participate effectively in the market place. Consumer Education provides the insight necessary to develop citizens into responsible and intelligent acting consumers.

    Educated consumers make better choices and because of their higher expectations, there is a positive effect on competitiveness as companies improve their products and services
    Investing in our Future
    Teaching consumer education is investing in our future: it means protecting, giving confidence and enhancing the accountability of tomorrow’s consumers. The numerous consumer education themes can be tackled in almost all traditional teaching subjects and curricula. Consequently, teachers are definitely the most suitable to provide consumer education and to help educate the consumers of tomorrow.

    In an increasingly globalised world, awareness regarding your rights as a consumer is crucial to ensure protection, confidence and social responsibility while consuming. Given the fast development of the Internet, social media and online networks, teenagers are the most likely to suffer this lack of awareness.

    Consumer Classroom provides a means for teachers to learn about consumer education themselves and to pass this invaluable information onto their students through cross curricular projects. This website will help teachers to give their students everyday examples of how to be a better consumer through interactive and engaging lessons.www.savetheconsumers.org

  • Water is the most essential element to life and it is the most important substances on earth. Every living thing in the planet must have water to survive. Water is essential in the popular circulation of nutrients in the body. It serves as body’s transportation system.

    In Nigeria today, the common medium of drinking water is the sachet water. Popularly known as “pure water”, sachets water is the cheapest and affordable form of water sold by everyone from street hawkers and shop owners and it is accessible to all.

    Everyone venture into sachet water business without technically and scientifically grounded on handling and producing sachet water through storage and proper handling. Some just package untreated water in sachet and start distributing wherein endangering lives of people that may not even care to check the water they drink.

    People drink water daily without checking if there’s NAFDAC approved number or expiring date and when it is over accumulated In their body system, it result to severe diseases.

    The failure to provide safe pipe-borne water for human consumption by the governments, led to the production of sachet water in Nigeria. The government left the production of such water by individuals, who have little or no knowledge of producing quality water.

    Professor Amobi Ilika, the director of community and public medicine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra state, in march 2013, when in civic presentation, cautioned that sachet water exposed the drinkers to cancerous materials.

    It is important for Nigerians to check properly before buying any sachet water to see if it has NAFDAC number and try as much as possible to protect themselves against unwanted diseases that may cause their lives and be mindful of the kind of water they drink.

    Health is wealth!!!

     

     

  • Water is the most essential element to life and it is the most important substances on earth. Every living thing in the planet must have water to survive. Water is essential in the popular circulation of nutrients in the body. It serves as body’s transportation system.

    In Nigeria today, the common medium of drinking water is the sachet water. Popularly known as “pure water”, sachets water is the cheapest and affordable form of water sold by everyone from street hawkers and shop owners and it is accessible to all.

    Everyone venture into sachet water business without technically and scientifically grounded on handling and producing sachet water through storage and proper handling. Some just package untreated water in sachet and start distributing wherein endangering lives of people that may not even care to check the water they drink.

    People drink water daily without checking if there’s NAFDAC approved number or expiring date and when it is over accumulated In their body system, it result to severe diseases.

    The failure to provide safe pipe-borne water for human consumption by the governments, led to the production of sachet water in Nigeria. The government left the production of such water by individuals, who have little or no knowledge of producing quality water.

    Professor Amobi Ilika, the director of community and public medicine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra state, in march 2013, when in civic presentation, cautioned that sachet water exposed the drinkers to cancerous materials.

    It is important for Nigerians to check properly before buying any sachet water to see if it has NAFDAC number and try as much as possible to protect themselves against unwanted diseases that may cause their lives and be mindful of the kind of water they drink.

    Health is wealth!!!

     

     

  •  

    The patients' bill of rights debate has been making rounds recently particularly after the unfortunate death of a beautiful and full of life corp member who was shot by the police, who was shot at on her way from work to celebrate with her friends that she has been retained. may her sins be forgiven and her soul rests in peace. Amin.

    From stories making wave around, I think it is pertinent to bring to the knowledge of the people; the patients' bill of rights. Although these rights differ from country to country,  the basics of what the bill should be concerned about it was are penned down here. However, there is room for amendments/modification but let us understand what it means first.

     

    All patients should be guaranteed the following freedoms:

    a. to seek consultation with the physician of their choice.

    b. to contract with their physician on mutually agreeable terms.

    c. to be treated confidentially with access to their records limited to those involved in their care or designated by the patient.

    d. to use their own resources to purchase the care of their choice.

    e. to refuse medical treatment even if it is recommended by their physician.

    f. to be informed about their medical condition, the risks, and benefits of treatment and appropriate alternatives.

    g. to refuse third-party interference in their medical care and to be confident that their actions in seeking or declining medical care will not result in the third party imposed penalties for patients or physicians.

    h. to receive full disclosure of their insurance plan in plain language which includes;

    1.  contracts: a copy of the contract between the physician and healthcare plan and between the patient or employer and the plan.
    2. incentives: whether participating physicians are offered financial incentives to reduce treatment or ration care.
    3. cost: the full cost of the plan, including copayments, coinsurance and deductibles.
    4. coverage: benefits covered, excluded, including availability and location of 24-hour emergency care.
    5. qualifications: a roster and qualifications of participating physicians.
    6. approval procedures: the authorisation procedure for services whether doctors need the approval of a committee or any other individual and who decides what is medically necessary.
    7. referrals procedures for consulting a specialist and who must authorise the referral.
    8. appeals: grievance procedures for claim or treatment denials.
    9. GAG rule: whether physicians are subject to a gag rule, preventing criticism of the plan.


    As it is, know about the patients' bill of right first then you can make your contributions when it is open for debate.

    #SaveTheConsumers

     

  • The horrible experience of Clinton James Twitter/@ClintJeezz in a restaurant in Benin city is a far cry from what Nigerians are suffering daily from most restaurant and food vendors. Quite a large number of ready to eat food are everywhere in Nigeria and all of them operate unchecked by the appropriate authority, perhaps the authority staff also patronize the one that is closer to them.

     

    I am much more concerned about the hygienic aspects of the food that vendors and restaurant sell to Nigerians. Let us deal with human factor first, how many of us ask the restaurants or food vendors if the person that prepare the food we eat outside our house is certified to prepare such food, is the person free from hepatitis, is the person free from covid-19 among other diseases and virus that can be transferred to the consumers.

    The challenge of the average Nigerian is satisfying hunger coupled with the challenge of the food crisis that is getting worsened in our country today.

     Environmental factor challenge is also begging for an immediate solution from the government, which are unsafe environment, unsafe water, unsafe waste disposal and exposure of food to insects and dust where food vendor does not care about covering the food. These are more prevalent in most cities in Nigeria.

    I recall my fight with a man who carries a slaughtered skinned goat meat on his motorcycle and tied it with rubber, transporting it to another location in a dusty road. While I was telling him, this is not healthy he was busy speaking in his dialect and people around the scene were looking at me as if I am asking for too much, more so this very city has Environmental officers, even though they are not up to 300 to take care of four million population. Our country employs more medical doctors compare to an environmental officer who will prevent a health-related outbreak, but employs doctor that will take care of the health issue when it happens.

    World health organization position is that food safety must be recognized as a public health function and access to safe food as a basic human right.

     

    Aliyu ilias

    Consumer Advocate

  •  

    When fake drugs and products destroyed the lives of many, and consumers had no one to hold accountable, dubious business men continued to wreck havoc in the homes of many.

    With the Coming of a determined Lady, the situation changed. Fake drugs started disappearing from chemists, fake food manufacturers started running away and pharmacies without proper licensing started disappearing. Quacks in the drugs industry were chased away. Consumers were safe again.

    The dubious business people, whose only intention was to kill consumers, tried to kill the Legend on many occasions. But Nature wouldn't let that happen. She fought for the good of the consumers. She fought for you and I.

    Today the war on fake drugs continues, but consumers must ever remain grateful to a woman, a Diva, a legend and a queen who stood up against fake drug and food manufacturers.

    "Fake drugs are not good for your health, bad food products are not good for your health. Do not self medicate. Always visit a good hospital." She will always advice. She stood up against all the evil people in the drug business for the good of our society.

    Anyone could have been a victim of fake drugs. Support save the consumers as we educate consumers about their consumer rights.www.savetheconsumers.org