Lagos Warns Shops Over Expired, Fake Products

The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to protect consumers from counterfeit, expired, adulterated and substandard products, warning that businesses found violating consumer protection laws risk having their premises sealed.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Afolabi Solebo, gave the warning during appearances on the AskLagos programme aired on Lagos Traffic Radio 96.1 FM and Lagos Television.

Solebo said the agency had continued to identify supermarkets and retail outlets selling unwholesome products, adding that sustained monitoring and enforcement had helped reduce the practice.

He said the agency would publicise its enforcement actions to raise public awareness, encourage compliance and deter businesses from violating consumer protection regulations.

On price transparency, Solebo urged consumers to report supermarkets and shops that failed to display the prices of their goods.

He explained that visible price tags helped shoppers make informed purchasing decisions and prevented discrepancies between displayed prices and the amounts charged at checkout.

Addressing the “No Refund, No Return” policy adopted by some businesses, the LASCOPA boss said blanket disclaimers did not automatically remove consumers’ rights to seek redress.

He encouraged residents who bought defective, counterfeit or misrepresented products to file complaints with the agency.

Solebo also advised consumers to check product labels, verify registration details, examine expiry dates and keep receipts as evidence in case of disputes.

For online transactions, he urged residents to verify sellers, confirm payment terms, use secure payment channels and inspect goods before payment where cash on delivery was available.

He called on consumers not to remain silent when businesses violated their rights, urging them to use the agency’s complaint channels.

Solebo stressed that effective consumer protection required collective responsibility from consumers, businesses and regulators.

He reaffirmed LASCOPA’s commitment to safeguarding consumers’ interests, promoting fair business practices and ensuring a safe and transparent marketplace.

Residents can report complaints through LASCOPA’s social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram and X via @lasgcopa, by email at [email protected], or through its toll-free helpline on 080 0005 2726.