Terms of Service
Effective:
June 28, 2026
Welcome to Ngwaahia ("we", "our", "us"). By accessing or using our mobile app, website, and related services (collectively, the "Services"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Services.
Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old to use the Services. By creating an account, you represent that you are at least 18 years of age and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement.
Your Account
You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information when registering and to keep your information up to date. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. Notify us immediately at [email protected] if you suspect unauthorized access.
Certain sensitive account fields — such as your name, email, and phone number — are subject to change-frequency limits (e.g., once every 90 days) to protect against identity fraud.
The Marketplace
Ngwaahia is a consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketplace that connects buyers and sellers. We are not a party to any transaction between users. Buyers and sellers are solely responsible for communicating, negotiating, fulfilling, and completing transactions, including payment and delivery arrangements.
Seller Obligations
If you operate a shop on Ngwaahia, you agree to:
Provide accurate and truthful product descriptions, photos, and pricing.
Maintain honest stock quantities and update them promptly.
Fulfill orders in a timely manner and update order statuses honestly.
Confirm payment receipt truthfully — do not confirm payment you have not received.
Provide accurate bank account or payment information for receiving payments.
Comply with all applicable laws regarding the products you sell, including consumer protection, product safety, and tax obligations.
Respond to disputes and buyer inquiries in good faith.
Buyer Obligations
If you purchase items on Ngwaahia, you agree to:
Provide accurate delivery addresses and contact information.
Make honest payment claims — do not claim to have made a payment you have not made, and upload genuine payment proof images.
Confirm delivery truthfully when you have received your order.
Raise disputes only for genuine issues — do not file false or fraudulent disputes.
Complete payment according to the agreed payment timing (upfront, on pickup, or on delivery).
Payments
Ngwaahia does not process payments directly. Payments are arranged between buyers and sellers using the payment methods specified by the seller (bank transfer, Venmo, Zelle, or other supported methods depending on country).
Both buyers and sellers may be asked to upload payment proof images to verify that payment has been made and received. These images are stored securely and are accessible to both parties and to Ngwaahia staff for dispute resolution.
Payment Timing
Sellers set the payment timing for each order:
Upfront — payment is due before the seller processes the order.
On Pickup — payment is due when the buyer collects the order in person. For bank-transfer payments, the seller must confirm receipt before the pickup handover can be completed.
On Delivery — payment is due upon delivery.
Order Verification (OTP)
Ngwaahia uses one-time passcodes (OTPs) to verify that orders have been correctly handed over, protecting both buyers and sellers.
Pickup Orders
For in-person pickup orders, an OTP is displayed to the buyer. The seller must enter this OTP to confirm the handover. This step is mandatory and cannot be opted out of. Do not share your pickup OTP with anyone other than the seller at the point of collection.
Delivery Orders
For delivery orders, a delivery confirmation OTP is generated and displayed to the buyer when the order is marked as in transit. The seller must enter this OTP to confirm that the buyer received the order. This safeguard is enabled by default but buyers may opt out of it at the time of placing the order. If a buyer opts out, the seller can mark the order as delivered without an OTP.
Disputes
Either the buyer or the seller may raise a dispute on an order if a genuine issue arises (e.g., item not as described, payment not received, delivery failure). When a dispute is raised:
The order is placed in a DISPUTED status.
Both parties should provide relevant evidence (descriptions, payment proofs, photos).
Ngwaahia may review the dispute and make a resolution decision. Our resolution is final within the platform, though it does not affect either party's legal rights.
Note: A seller cannot raise a dispute after they have already confirmed payment for an order.
Reviews & Ratings
After an order reaches a terminal status (fulfilled, returned, or refunded), the buyer may leave a review for the shop and its products. Reviews include star ratings, text comments, tags, and optional photos or videos.
Reviews may be edited within 7 days of creation.
Reviews may be toggled between public and hidden by the reviewer.
Shop owners may rate buyers after order completion (private by default, editable within 7 days).
You agree not to post reviews that are false, misleading, defamatory, or intended to manipulate ratings. We reserve the right to remove reviews that violate these Terms.
Prohibited Conduct
You agree not to:
Post fraudulent, counterfeit, or misleading product listings.
Upload falsified payment proof images or make dishonest payment claims.
Manipulate reviews, ratings, or follower counts.
Impersonate another person or misrepresent your identity.
Use the Services for money laundering, fraud, or any illegal activity.
Spam, harass, or send unsolicited messages to other users.
Attempt to circumvent platform safeguards (e.g., bypassing OTP verification or dispute restrictions).
Interfere with the security or operation of the Services.
Content & Intellectual Property
You retain ownership of the content you upload (product photos, review media, etc.). By uploading content, you grant Ngwaahia a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute that content as part of the Services.
All Ngwaahia logos, branding, and platform content are our property or licensed to us. You may not use our branding without written permission.
You are responsible for all content you upload and must ensure it does not infringe on any third party's intellectual property rights or violate any laws.
Account Suspension & Termination
We may suspend or terminate your account, shop, or individual product listings if you violate these Terms, engage in fraudulent or harmful conduct, or if required by law. Grounds for suspension include but are not limited to:
Posting fraudulent listings or falsifying payment information.
Repeated violations of seller or buyer obligations.
Manipulating reviews or platform trust signals.
Reports from other users that are substantiated upon investigation.
You may stop using the Services and delete your account at any time through the app's Account Settings, or by contacting us at [email protected].
Fees
Ngwaahia is currently free to use for buyers and sellers. We may introduce fees for certain features or services in the future. If we do, we will notify you before any fees apply to your account.
Disclaimers
The Services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We do not guarantee that the Services will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure at all times.
Ngwaahia is a marketplace platform, not a seller, buyer, payment processor, or delivery service. We do not:
Guarantee the quality, safety, legality, or authenticity of any product listed on the platform.
Guarantee that sellers will fulfill orders or that buyers will complete payment.
Verify the identity of users beyond the information they provide at registration.
Hold, escrow, or process any funds — all payments flow directly between buyers and sellers.
Guarantee delivery outcomes or timelines.
While we provide tools to facilitate trust (payment proof images, pickup OTPs, reviews, dispute resolution), these do not eliminate the inherent risks of peer-to-peer commerce. You use the Services at your own risk and should exercise appropriate caution when transacting with other users.
Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Ngwaahia and its officers, employees, and agents will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from or related to your use of the Services, including but not limited to:
Losses from transactions between users (fraud, non-delivery, misrepresented products).
Disputes over payment between buyers and sellers.
Unauthorized access to your account due to compromised credentials.
Actions or conduct of other users on the platform.
In no event will our total liability exceed the greater of one hundred US dollars (US$100) or the fees you paid to Ngwaahia in the twelve months preceding the claim.
Governing Law
If you are located in Nigeria, these Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Nigeria.
If you are located in the United States, these Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles, and any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Delaware.
Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes through the app or by email. Your continued use of the Services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
Contact Us
For questions about these Terms, contact us at: [email protected]
By using Ngwaahia, you agree to these Terms. Thank you for building and trading with us.