Gboyega Akinsanmi
The Lagos State Government has urged residents to report individuals or companies that deprived them of their rights with respect to goods purchased or services rendered within the jurisdiction of the state.
Consequently, the state government pledged “to check all forms of abuse of consumers’ rights in the state, noting that the era of violating consumers’ rights and getting away with it “has gone entirely in the state.â€
The Chairman of the State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Mrs. Funmilola Falana and the agency’s General Manager, Mrs. Oluwakemi Olugbode conveyed this message after a peaceful march to mark the recent World Consumer Protection Day.
In her address, Falana assured that the agency in line with its mandate was doing everything possible to protect consumers in the state, adding that services rendered by the agency were free of charge.
She said the consumers’ rights “are very critical. We have the mandate to protect such rights. We cannot tolerate abuse of consumers’ rights in the state. So, all residents should report violation of consumers’ rights to the agency. We will always ensure justice.â€
Also speaking, Olugbode said the era of cheating and short-changing consumers in Lagos was over, noting that the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was determined to protect them.
She asked the residents of the state “to visit the agency office, call or send emails to report any individual or company who had deprived them of their rights in respect to goods and services and assured them that they would get justice.â€
“Plan is already underway to take the sensitisation walk to Epe, Badagry, Ikorodu and other areas of the state. Time has come to give consumers value for their money. March 15 is observed annually as World Consumer Protection Day.â€
Ambode had in January inaugurated the agency, then charging them “to stop the abuse of rights of consumers. The Lagos State House of Assembly duly enacted the law that established the e State Consumer Protection Agency in 2015.â€
Ambode noted that membership of the agency “is drawn from both the public and private sector groups including Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) among others.
“The establishment of the agency is a strong demonstration of our commitment to the protection of the rights of consumers, the promotion of consumer satisfaction in the state and our resolve to ensure that they get value for money spent on goods and services.
“The agency is therefore meant to complement our reforms on the ease of doing business in the state especially as it affects the development of the industrial, commercial and consumer satisfaction value chain,†the governor had said.
He listed the functions of the agency to include getting an offending firm, company, trade association or individual to compensate or provide relief to injured consumers or communities as a result of adverse effects of harmful products.
He added that other functions of the agency “are encouraging trade, industry and professional associations to develop and enforce in their various fields, quality standards designed to safeguard the interest of consumers.â€
He noted that the agency would equally encourage trade, industry and professional associations “to conduct necessary tests on a product and encourage formation of voluntary consumer groups or associations for the interest of the consumers.
“Under the law establishing the agency, a convict would be mandated to pay an amount of money the court considers as appropriate compensation in respect of any loss or damage to a consumer whose right has been infringed on.
“The law also gives the agency the power to hold and dispose property whether moveable or immovable for the purpose of exercising its functions under the law.
“The establishment of this agency would prevent the circulation of any product, which constitutes an imminent public hazard; protect the rights of consumers where negotiation, conciliation or mediation fails.â€
