A Nigerian consumer has formally filed a lawsuit against Chowdeck, one of the country’s fast-growing food delivery platforms, alleging excessive price markups and unfair order cancellation fees.
Dolapo Adedeji, the complainant, initially raised concerns at the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja after noticing significant discrepancies between prices displayed on the Chowdeck app and those at the restaurants. According to Adedeji, the platform applied markups ranging from 25% to 50% before factoring in delivery charges, contrary to the company’s claims that merchants control their own pricing.
The complaint also targets Chowdeck’s cancellation policies, which impose non-refundable charges even when customers cancel orders early due to app errors or a change of mind. Adedeji’s legal suit seeks not only personal refunds for affected transactions but also regulatory action mandating transparent platform-specific price disclosures and an end to predatory cancellation fees.
Should the tribunal rule in Adedeji’s favour, Chowdeck may be required to clearly label platform markups, adjust fee structures, and compensate affected customers. Analysts suggest that a verdict against the company could set a precedent, prompting other food delivery platforms to review their pricing models to avoid similar legal challenges.
The CCPT’s eventual ruling could have wide-ranging implications for consumer protection in Nigeria’s digital food delivery sector, reinforcing accountability and promoting fairer practices in a market where commission-driven revenue models often inflate costs for end-users.
