The General Manager of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Mr. Afolabi Solebo, has emphasised the need for industry players to develop and enforce quality standards designed to protect and safeguard the interest of consumers.

Solebo, who made the call during the Conference of Nigeria Trade Associations (CONiTA 2021) held at the LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre, on Wednesday May 19, 2021, emphasised the role of the agency, which is the promotion of consumer rights, protection against hazardous and sub-standard products.

He said the agency has striven to achieve this through regular public enlightenment with a vision to ensuring consumer satisfaction and value for money.

Their role also includes publishing from time to time the list of products the consumption and sale of which have been banned, withdrawn, restricted or not approved by the appropriate Federal Government agencies among others.

Afolabi Solebo, in a keynote address, enumerated the achievement made so far since the agency started its operation in March 2018 after it was established in year 2015 by the Lagos State Consumer Protection law to promote and protect the interest of consumers.

He said it is only when the public has good health that you can run an economy successfully, hence the agency is beckoning on all stakeholders to key into the driving force of development under the T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda of the Lagos State government instituted by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.

He said since its inception, the agency has received a total of 3,336 cases and out which 2,960 were resolved, 237 ongoing, 139 referred to other agencies and parastatals for action while 14 cases are in court.

He noted that it is only when mediation and reconciliation fails that those cases are subjected to litigation and taken to court while condemning the act of selling fake, substandard and expired items, and branded such activity as a criminal act, and encouraged people to lodge complains when such act are found.

Highlighting the agency’s achievement, Solebo said: “In the last two years the agency has recovered more than N9 million from unscrupulous people doing all forms of unscrupulous business.

“Since inception, the agency has also recovered a total sum of N134.2 million for people; for those who lodge their complains; about a total sum of N49 million as well has been recovered for customers in the last six months that I have been the General Manager of LASCOPA.

“The most important of the department is education; it is only when the citizens are aware, that they even have right. Consumer has a right; that is why the agency has been carrying out public enlightenment on radio and TV stations.

“The only place you can go when your rights are being infringed upon is the Lagos State Consumer Right Protection Agency. One of the achievements of the agency is the continuous enlightenment of citizenry so that they don’t buy product that has deformation.

“Mr. Governor has given total support to the agency and has zero tolerance to the right of consumers being wasted here and there,” he said.

The theme of this year’s Conference of Nigeria Trade Associations (CONiTA 2021) which is the 3rd edition is ‘Governance and Economic Prosperity in a Pandemic World’.

In attendance was Mr. Babatunde Irukera, Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) represented by Suzie Onwuka staff of FCCPC; Mrs. Kafayat Adetokunbo Ajenifuja, Permanent Secretary who was represented by Mr. Babawale Thompson-John of the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation & Employment; Mr. Tony Peters management consultant; Mr. Nelson Obine, Convener/Chief Sustainability Advocate, distinguished guest and participants.