Consumer Dissatisfaction in E-commerce Transactions: Protecting the Nigerian Consumers

Abstract

Information Communication Technology (ICT) has had a significant impact on modern trade and commerce in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the impact of digitization and digital technology on commercial transactions has exposed consumers in Nigeria to a variety of issues, most notably consumer dissatisfaction. The phrase ‘what you ordered versus what you got’ has become popular as a result of unfair business practices and phoney advertising. Despite this, the efficacy of existing laws to safeguard consumers in Nigerian e-commerce transactions has now been called into question, as they continue to be subjected to unfair trade practices and deceptive advertising with limited legal recourse. As a result, this paper analyses the existing legislation in Nigeria that safeguards consumers’ rights and interests in e-commerce transactions. To achieve this aim, this paper adopts the doctrinal research methodology and finds that the extant laws for the protection of consumers in e-commerce transactions in Nigeria are outdated and not adequate to prevent exploitation and unfair trade practices. Consequently, it argues that there is an urgent need for the amendment of the existing laws to protect the rights of consumers in e-commerce transactions. E-commerce, consumer satisfaction, consumer protection law, Nigerian laws, consumer dissatisfaction, commercial law