Consumer Protection Law and E-Commerce Regulation in Nigeria: An Examination of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 represents Nigeria's most comprehensive consumer protection legislation, establishing the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and introducing substantive consumer rights applicable across commercial sectors including the rapidly growing e-commerce market. As e-commerce transactions involving platforms such as Jumia, Konga, and social media vendors expand in Nigeria's urban centres, the adequacy of the FCCPA framework for protecting online consumers raises important public law questions. This study examines the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 and its application to e-commerce consumer protection, focusing on transactions in the Lagos and Abuja markets. A doctrinal methodology is adopted, reviewing the FCCPA text, the FCCPC enforcement orders and decisions from 2019 to 2023, selected consumer complaint outcomes, and comparative e-commerce regulation from the United Kingdom and Kenya. The study evaluates product liability provisions, right to refund, data misuse protections, and the FCCPC's enforcement capacity in the digital marketplace. Available consumer law literature from South West Nigeria identifies deceptive product descriptions, unenforceable return policies, and inadequate FCCPC digital enforcement tools as the primary consumer protection gaps in e-commerce. The Consumer Welfare Standard and the Digital Consumer Rights Framework guide the analysis. Recommendations address FCCPC digital enforcement capacity, mandatory e-merchant registration, and expedited digital consumer dispute resolution. Keywords: consumer protection, e-commerce, FCCPA 2018, FCCPC, Nigeria.