THE PROTECTION OF CONSUMERS IN NIGERIA’S E-COMMERCE SECTOR: A PERSPECTIVE FROM INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL LAW

Abstract

E-commerce's explosive growth in Nigeria has changed business dealings while also putting customers at greater danger of fraud, deceptive advertising, unfair contract conditions, data privacy violations, and difficulties with cross-border enforcement. Despite being primarily governed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 and receiving support from section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the current framework was not created with the intricacies of digital commerce in mind. This paper uses comparative analysis with the lens of international commercial law to assess how well Nigeria's institutional and regulatory framework protects consumers in online transactions. The paper adopted a doctrinal and comparative methodology, analysing comparative frameworks in Nigeria, United Kingdom and South Africa. The paper argued that Nigeria’s consumer protection regime remains fragmented, enforcement-driven rather than preventive, and insufficiently harmonised with international best practices, particularly regarding cooling-off rights, platform liability, mandatory disclosure obligations, and cross-border dispute resolution. It found that while recent legislation, such as the Electronic Transactions Act 2023 and data protection reforms, signals regulatory progress, significant enforcement gaps and institutional fragmentation persist. The paper concluded that strengthening statutory clarity, enhancing regulatory coordination, and aligning domestic law with global standards are essential to safeguarding consumer confidence and ensuring sustainable growth in Nigeria’s digital economy.

Keywords: Consumer protection, E-commerce, Electronic Transactions Act 2023, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018