ODCCPA Seeks NUJ Partnership to Strengthen Consumer Protection in Ondo
26th October, 2026
The Ondo State Competition and Consumer Protection Agency (ODCCPA) has called for a stronger partnership with the media to educate residents on their consumer rights and tackle unfair business practices across the state.
The Executive Chairman of the agency, Oluyemi Fasipe, made the call during a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, where he described journalists as strategic partners in promoting consumer protection and ensuring accountability in business transactions.
Fasipe said the media had a critical role to play in informing the public, shaping opinions and helping consumers make informed decisions about the products and services they purchase.
He explained that consumer protection covers essential aspects of daily life, including food, fuel, goods and services, stressing that consumers deserved value for their money while businesses must operate under fair and transparent conditions.
According to him, the Ondo State Competition and Consumer Protection Agency Law, 2026, provides the legal framework for protecting consumers, promoting fair competition and addressing unfair business practices.
He noted that the success of the agency would not be determined solely by inspections, business closures or prosecutions but also by its ability to prevent consumer abuse, improve compliance and encourage responsible business practices.
“Our first responsibility is to educate, then investigate and enforce the law where necessary,” Fasipe said.
He added that informed consumers were less vulnerable to exploitation, while businesses that understood their obligations were more likely to comply with relevant regulations.
The ODCCPA chairman urged journalists to use their radio, television, newspaper and online platforms to enlighten the public on consumer rights and responsibilities.
He said the agency needed the support of the media to educate residents on how to identify fake and substandard products, check expiry dates, verify product labels, recognise misleading advertisements and report inaccurate measurements.
Fasipe also encouraged consumers to retain receipts, product packaging, photographs and other relevant evidence that could support complaints against businesses.
He said the agency was committed to promoting fair competition, responsible pricing, honest advertising and accountability, while ensuring that products and services available to residents met appropriate standards of safety.
The chairman, however, urged journalists to report consumer-related issues responsibly, noting that the agency’s objective was not to create panic or damage legitimate businesses but to ensure accurate reporting, fair investigations and reliable information.
He emphasised that the proposed partnership would respect press freedom and the statutory responsibilities of the agency.
“We are not asking journalists to abandon their watchdog role, but to work with us in the public interest,” he said.
Fasipe identified consumer education programmes, public service announcements, media briefings, awareness articles, journalist engagement and accessible complaint channels as possible areas of collaboration between the agency and the NUJ.
He also welcomed constructive criticism and investigative reports on genuine consumer abuses, assuring journalists that the agency would investigate credible complaints and provide appropriate feedback.
According to him, government alone cannot effectively monitor every business transaction across the state, making the involvement of journalists and informed citizens essential to identifying violations and encouraging compliance.
He said the agency’s vision was to create an Ondo State where consumers could purchase goods and services with confidence, businesses operated responsibly and residents knew where to seek redress when their rights were violated.
Fasipe urged the NUJ leadership and its members to regard the agency as a willing partner in advancing consumer protection and responsible business practices.
He said the visit was expected to lay the foundation for a lasting and practical relationship between both institutions.
“Consumer protection is everybody’s responsibility: the government must provide the framework, businesses must comply, consumers must remain vigilant, and the media must inform the public,” he said.
The ODCCPA chairman thanked the leadership and members of the NUJ, Ondo State Council, for receiving the agency’s management team and expressed optimism that the partnership would help strengthen consumer protection across the state.
