FCCPC, LASCOPA Join Forces to Tackle Consumer Exploitation

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) have strengthened their collaboration to protect consumers from unfair business practices, with a renewed focus on improving transparency and accountability in marketplaces across Lagos. The initiative aims to address common consumer complaints while encouraging businesses to comply with existing consumer protection laws.

Speaking during a stakeholders' engagement in Ikeja, the Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said consumer confidence is essential to a healthy economy. Represented by the Commission's South-West Coordinator, Olubumi Otti, he stressed that customers must be able to trust that displayed prices are accurate, product information is reliable and their rights to refunds, repairs or replacements will be respected where applicable.

The engagement focused on three key issues affecting consumers and businesses: price tagging, minimum product labelling requirements, and return and refund obligations. Bello noted that although these may appear to be routine business practices, they are vital to ensuring informed consumer choices, promoting fair competition and creating a level playing field for responsible businesses.

He added that the partnership between the FCCPC and LASCOPA is built on a shared commitment to improving consumer welfare through dialogue rather than confrontation. According to him, businesses are more likely to comply with regulations when they clearly understand their legal responsibilities and the benefits of fair trading practices.

The collaboration forms part of broader efforts to strengthen consumer protection in Nigeria by fostering cooperation between federal and state agencies, improving compliance with consumer protection laws and enhancing public confidence in the marketplace.