UMAR IDRIS SHUAIBU – Kano
World Consumer Rights Day is marked every 15 of March as a means of raising awareness about Consumer rights and needs.
That is to say celebrating the day is a chance to demand that the rights of all consumers are respected and protected, and to say no to market abuses and social injustices which undermine those rights.
Some residents of Kano interviewed by Daily News 24 expressed mixed reactions.
According to some, attitudinal change is the only measure to stop this year’s theme of Consumer Rights Day, which says ‘No to plastic pollution’.
“People nowadays contributed negatively to the growing number of places with plastic pollution especially in cities and any existing residences”.
Head, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Kano Office, Alhaji Hassan Abdulhamid Hassan said from last year 2020 to March 2021, in their efforts to protect the rights of buyers and all customers, the commission received 82 complaints, of which 64 were resolved, only 18 complaints are before our commission for necessary action.
Alhaji Hassan Abdulhamid Hassan said their commission due look at for ways to resolve any receiving complaint before going to court, and tribunal of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission will soon start its duty, that will pave way for resolving Customers and buyers complaint across the country.
Regarding this year’s theme for World Consumer Rights Day, the Head Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Alhaji Hassan Abdulhamid Hassan added that the commission will continue to make awareness through Radio, Television Stations, and Newspaper Online Platforms for the benefit of all.
“If you look at plastic waste, it’s bringing a lot of negative impact to our environment we are living in, as such we’re promoting to use paper bag across the country as a solution to the current trend”, Hassan Abdulhamid Hassan said.
Environmental Expert and National Treasurer Nigerian Environmental Society, Umar Sale Anka said, combating the menace of plastic waste pollution has become a global environmental challenge, as its capable of affecting land, waterways, and oceans.
He added that this human activity triggered many marine and land creatures to die of this hazardous behaviour because plastic is non-biodegradable and it causes an unlimited problem to the soil.
The Experts said it’s important for everyone to know that plastic pollution emits toxic gasses when exposed or heated up.
“Normally in most cities we experience block drainage line and filling of land space, which causes floods and erosion as a result of the consequences of plastic pollution.
“This negative problem causes deterioration of Nigerian roads, besides harmful effect to human health.
When asked for the solution to put in place about the menace, Environmentalist Umar Sale Anka said there is a need for recycling those plastic waste to other things, which is also a panacea to wealth creation in the country.
Consumer Rights Day was inspired by American President John F. Kennedy who sent a special message to the US Congress on 15th March 1962, which formally addressed issues related to Consumer Rights were made by him.
The celebration comprises of campaign, mobilizing people on what is expected of them as Consumers, and how to voice out their problems when as the needs arise to the appropriate Organization.
