LASCOPA recovers ₦759m through consumer mediation

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) says it has secured ₦759.35 million in consumer redress and resolved 10,720 complaints in six years.

The agency’s General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Afolabi Solebo, disclosed this in a statement signed by its Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Mr Adesile Rufai, on Thursday in Lagos.

Solebo said the agency’s Mediation and Complaints Department received 11,120 complaints from consumers across various sectors, including banking, telecommunications, aviation, transportation, education, housing, healthcare, hospitality and retail.

Other sectors covered include online marketing, automobile, logistics, insurance, food and beverages, supermarkets, household appliances, oil and gas, and electricity distribution.

He said 10,720 complaints had been resolved, while 250 remained at various stages of mediation and 150 had been referred to other relevant state agencies.

According to him, the interventions secured billing adjustments, refunds and other forms of redress valued at ₦759,354,292.60 and $14,901.80 for consumers.

Solebo urged residents to take advantage of the agency’s complaint and mediation services through its toll-free helpline.

On enforcement, he said LASCOPA had issued 437 notices of non-compliance to supermarkets and retail outlets following market surveillance exercises.

He listed the violations to include inadequate price disclosure, misleading product labelling and failure to provide essential product information.

“We have also expanded the agency’s regulatory presence, strengthened consumer education, improved complaint resolution and intensified enforcement of consumer protection laws across Lagos State,” he said.

Solebo identified the establishment and strengthening of eight annex offices across Agege, Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu, Ojo, Bariga, Ikoyi-Obalende and Isolo as another major achievement.

He said the offices were equipped with operational tools, including public address systems and mobile telephone devices, to bring complaint management, mediation and consumer education closer to residents.

He added that the agency was engaging local government authorities to secure additional office accommodation ahead of 2027.

On consumer education, Solebo said LASCOPA had intensified public awareness through radio and television programmes, community engagements, stakeholder meetings and social media campaigns.

He said the initiatives had educated residents on their fundamental consumer rights, including safety, accurate information, fair value, freedom of choice and redress.

He added that campaigns against counterfeit and expired products, deceptive advertising and hidden charges had encouraged consumers to demand receipts and verify product labels before making purchases.

Solebo said the agency’s enforcement activities were guided by the Lagos State Consumer Protection Law 2025, as amended, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.

He also highlighted the agency’s “No Price Tag, No Sales” campaign, which he said reinforced pricing transparency and fair-trading practices among businesses.

The general manager disclosed that LASCOPA had strengthened its partnership with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on April 21 in Abuja.

He said the agreement provided a framework for information sharing, joint consumer interventions and coordinated enforcement activities.

On revenue generation, Solebo said the agency generated more than ₦20 million for the state government between January and September, exceeding its annual target of ₦10 million by more than 100 per cent.

He attributed the performance to improved institutional capacity and the agency’s growing contribution to the state’s revenue base.

He further said LASCOPA continued to collaborate with government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations and scientific laboratories to strengthen product research, verification and consumer safety.

According to him, the agency also conducted unscheduled inspections of manufacturing facilities across the state to monitor compliance with applicable standards and consumer protection requirements.

Solebo said the initiatives demonstrated the agency’s commitment to promoting a fair, transparent and accountable marketplace while safeguarding consumers’ interests across Lagos.