Recommits to strategic investments to become Africa’s leading tourism, creative hub
Lagos State Government, yesterday, said it had recovered more than N450 million for consumers through interventions carried out by the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), as part of efforts to protect residents from unfair trade practices and exploitation.

The state’s Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, disclosed this during the 2026 media briefing to mark the third year of the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

According to the commissioner, LASCOPA received 4,412 complaints from consumers during the review period and successfully resolved 3,687 of the cases through mediation and enforcement mechanisms.

She stated that the agency recovered N450.69 million on behalf of aggrieved consumers across the state.

“A further 621 cases are ongoing, while 107 were referred to other state government agencies,” Ambrose-Medebem stated.

The commissioner noted that the agency intensified market surveillance and enforcement operations across the state to curb deceptive business practices and protect consumers’ rights.

According to her, LASCOPA monitored over 1,200 markets, supermarkets, stores and service outlets across the state during the period under review.

She said the enforcement operations targeted unfair pricing, counterfeit products, expired goods, hazardous items and other substandard products capable of endangering consumers.

According to her, out of the businesses monitored, 1,152 outlets were found compliant with consumer protection regulations, while more than 48 non-compliant businesses were sanctioned or prosecuted.

Ambrose-Medebem said the Sanwo-Olu-led administration remained committed to strengthening consumers’ confidence, ensuring fair trade practices and creating a safer commercial environment for Lagos residents.

She added that the state government would continue to improve complaint resolution mechanisms and intensify enforcement actions against businesses engaging in exploitative or illegal practices.

Also, Lagos State government has intensified efforts to position the state as Africa’s leading tourism, entertainment and creative economy hub through strategic investments in cultural festivals, heritage preservation, tourism infrastructure and international collaborations aimed at driving economic growth and global visibility.

Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, who also spoke during the media briefing, said the administration had continued to leverage tourism, arts, entertainment and culture as strategic tools for socio-economic development under the THEMES+ Agenda, particularly the “Entertainment and Tourism” pillar.

The commissioner added that the state recorded major milestones within the last year through landmark festivals, creative industry expansion, tourism-driven engagements and heritage conservation initiatives that further strengthened the state’s reputation as Africa’s entertainment and tourism capital.