A Legal Appraisal of the Protection of Consumer Rights and Intellectual Property regime in Nigeria

Abstract

Fake, substandard and harmful products and services flood the Nigeria market, including fake
intellectual property products. These fake goods and services are harmful to human existence,
hence the enactment of laws to protect the rights of consumers. The recent and most comprehensive
legislation that protect consumers rights is the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act
(FCCPA) 2018. The rights of the consumer are the rights to the right to the satisfaction of basic
need, right to safety, right to be informed, right to choose, right to be heard, right to redress, right
to consumer education, right to health and sustainable environment. This article aims at looking
into the legislations that protect consumers rights, means of redress and the extent of awareness
of consumers of the existence of such protection. It was found out that most consumers are not
aware of the existence of the Laws and the channel of redress in case of infringement. It is
recommended that Government, NGOs and Regulatory Agencies charged with consumer rights
protection should educate the consumers on their rights and means of redress.