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SOLEBO AFOLABI ABIODUN, LASCOPA GM
Lagos is a cosmopolitan state which boasts of a population of 24 million people. It enjoys a massive influx of traders and business activities. You can’t rule out the activities of traders of nefarious intention who on a daily basis violate consumer rights by selling substandard and unwholesome goods, rendering unsatisfactory financial transactions and delivery of poor services in some business engagements.
As a way of putting a check to this, the Lagos State government came up with an agency called, Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, (LASCOPA) to devise a mechanism for consumer protection and ensure that consumers in the state get value for their money and create a sustainable confidence in them. Presently occupying the position of the General Manager of LASCOPA is Mr. Solebo Afolabi Abiodun ESQ, a dedicated and well-respected legal practitioner. Mr. Solebi has been doing a lot in sensitizing Lagos consumers to know their rights and how LASCOPA can be helpful in helping them claim it whenever they buy substandard or expired products.
A few weeks ago, Mr. Solebo was part of the speakers at the 4th Lagos Real Estate Market Place Conference and Exhibitions held at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos where issues pertaining to protecting consumers rights were discussed. During his contribution to the topic of discussion, the LASCOPA GM took time to sensitize the audience on how the vibrant agency has been up and doing in ensuring consumers get refunds on purchase of products which are either bad, substandard or expired. Below are extracts from what he said:
“We have had over 80 thousand recoveries and recovered over 4 million naira for consumers in Lagos. And this can be put into different categories. There are 3 automobile companies that sold defective vehicles.
“We were able to recover their funds back to them because those vehicles were still under warranty. It’s a record. Also, from IKDC, the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency has recovered over 17 million Naira as credit adjustments for consumers in Lagos State. From EKDC that is; Eko Disco, we have recovered over 30 million as credit adjustment for people. And for those of you that are buying electronics, it’s on record.
“There’s nothing like no refund policy. If you buy a product that is still under warranty, or the product you bought within one to three months, it starts giving you issues, those products are sub- standard in nature. And if they are sub-standard, you as a consumer, are not expected to suffer for it. At this period of the year ending in December, you’ll discover that lots of supermarkets, lots of grocery stores, and some of these pharmaceutical stores, are putting out products that are about to expire. If you get these products, they have a shelter they call probing. For example, I’m buying products, let me say a tin of Bournvita that will expire on the 18th and today is the 14th. Are you expecting me to consume that within 4 days? If I can’t consume that, then why do you intend to sell expired products to me? Also, in insurance, a lot of things happen in insurance companies, they wouldn’t tell you because they want to make money off you.
“When it is time for them to deliver or indemnify you, they will start pushing you around. We have recovered over 17 million naira for clients. It’s all on records. All that this is saying is that if we continue to do consumer education, and won’t tell you that do not suffer in silence. Lodge your complaints. If you cannot walk your way into any of our offices, then hopefully most of us have phones. Go on Twitter, go on X, go on Instagram, go on Facebook, you will see the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency and I can assure you, once your complaint is lodged, definitely, somebody will be there to respond to you.
“So many supermarkets in Lagos State have been charged for breach of consumers rights, selling expired products and not displaying the price of the product. It is illegal, it’s very clear on this. Mr. Governor has zero tolerance for breach of consumers’ rights in Lagos State, no matter whose ox is gored.
“No matter who is involved, it is illegal not to display the price. And it’s also illegal for the price of the products to be different from the ones put on display. That’s a breach. We may invite you for mediation.
“And I also have to emphasize that the services rendered by Lagos State Consumers’ Protection Agency, are free. Par adventure, we go into mediation that we are unable to resolve through mediation and reconciliation, we refer to the court. The judiciary has given us Consumer Court; Magistrate Court and the High Court. We go to the court on behalf of the consumer free of charge. You need not to pay anything.
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