LASCOPA Tags 238 Lagos Retailers for Consumer Safety Lapses

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has significantly ramped up its enforcement operations throughout the state. This intensified drive aims to prevent the distribution of counterfeit, expired, dangerous, and low-quality goods to consumers. Between January and June 2026, LASCOPA's Monitoring and Enforcement Department conducted inspections on 663 retail establishments, including supermarkets, revealing that 238 of these businesses were in breach of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Law.

These inspections, as detailed by LASCOPA, spanned a wide array of retail spaces, from supermarkets and grocery stores to pharmacies, open markets, and shopping malls. The agency confirmed that its officers visited these locations unannounced, covering all 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas within Lagos State. During these checks, officials rigorously examined product certifications, confirmed manufacturing and expiration dates, evaluated storage environments, and seized any items that did not comply with established safety and quality benchmarks.

Mr. Afolabi Solebo, the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of LASCOPA, commented on the extensive exercise, stating that it aligns with the agency's core mission to safeguard consumers against hazardous goods. He issued a stern warning: “Consumer safety is non-negotiable. We are sending a clear message to every operator in the retail value chain: if you trade in fake, expired, hazardous or substandard products and you’re caught, you will face the full wrath of the law.”

Solebo further reminded retailers of their obligations under the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Law, 2025, which grants consumers the right to return faulty merchandise. He advised businesses to promptly return any expired, unsafe, or substandard products to their manufacturers or distributors instead of attempting to sell them. He also cautioned that any establishment caught distributing counterfeit, expired, or dangerous items could face severe penalties, including business closure, product seizure, and legal prosecution as stipulated by law.

The LASCOPA chief also called upon consumers to maintain vigilance by meticulously checking product labels, verifying authenticity, and confirming expiry dates before completing any purchase. He encouraged the public to report any suspicious or potentially unsafe products via the agency's designated complaint platforms. Solebo affirmed LASCOPA's commitment to ongoing routine inspections throughout Lagos to guarantee that only safe and high-quality goods are accessible in the state's commercial spaces.