Business

LASCOPA honours stakeholders, recovers over ₦530m for consumers

By The Nation,Zainab Olufemi

Copyright thenationonlineng

LASCOPA honours stakeholders, recovers over ₦530m for consumers

By Zainab Olufemi and Sisianu Melewakou

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has held the maiden edition of its Consumer Service Week and Awards Day, honouring individuals and organisations for exceptional commitment to consumer protection.

Speaking at the event, LASCOPA General Manager, Afolabi Solebo, highlighted the agency’s achievements since its establishment in March 2018. He disclosed that out of 11,101 consumer complaints received, 10,474 have been resolved, 437 are still being processed, while 197 were referred to other agencies.

In monetary terms, the agency has recovered over ₦530,266,592.31 and $14,901.80 for consumers across sectors such as electronics, banking, healthcare, telecommunications, food and beverages, logistics, insurance, online marketing, automobiles, electricity, and oil and gas.

Solebo also noted that LASCOPA has conducted multiple enforcement operations in supermarkets, open markets, and retail outlets to rid Lagos of expired and hazardous products.

He noted that the agency has also intensified consumer education through partnerships with the NYSC, schools, trade associations, and market leaders.

“These achievements underscore our dedication to building a Lagos where every consumer can buy, trade, and consume with confidence,” he said.

According to Solebo, the agency is proud of its achievements, but more work lies ahead, given emerging consumer challenges in a fast-growing Lagos.

“The agency was not set out to run people out of business but to bridge the gap between service providers and consumers. Together, we must build a Lagos where consumer rights are respected, businesses thrive on integrity, and residents enjoy fairness and value,” he said.