Federal and state regulatory authorities have intensified their joint campaign against market infractions in Lagos, issuing a firm directive to businesses to strictly comply with mandatory price tagging, product labelling and legal refund obligations or face administrative penalties, sealing of premises and prosecution.

The charge was delivered during a Joint Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum co-hosted by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Alausa, Ikeja.

The forum, themed “Price Tagging, Minimum Labelling Requirements and Return/Refund: The Implications of Non-Regulatory Compliance,” brought together key regulatory partners, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), alongside industry leaders, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumer advocacy groups.

Delivering the welcome address, the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, Esq., declared that compliance with market regulations is a mandatory legal requirement under both the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 and the LASCOPA Law 2025 (as amended).

Solebo emphasized that the joint initiative operationalizes a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between both agencies in April 2026 to enhance institutional synergy, market surveillance and consumer protection across Lagos State, serving over 20 million residents.

“Compliance with pricing regulations, product labelling standards and consumer redress mechanisms is not a matter of discretion; it is a legal obligation,” Solebo said. “Displaying goods without price tags, selling expired products, misleading consumers with deficient labelling, and refusing legitimate requests for returns and refunds are systemic gaps that erode consumer confidence and distort fair competition.”

Outlining the core objectives of the forum, Solebo noted that transparency in pricing, detailed product labelling and accessible redress channels are essential pillars for a healthy commercial ecosystem.

He reassured attendees that the forum was designed as a platform for collaborative engagement and voluntary compliance rather than a punitive tribunal.

Echoing these sentiments, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, represented by the Southwest Regional Coordinator of the Commission, Dr. Olubunmi Dorcas Otti, stressed that regulatory compliance is fundamentally a strategic business asset that builds market trust.

Addressing common retail violations, the FCCPC Chief highlighted everyday consumer grievances, including non-disclosure of prices prior to checkout, unlabelled or hazardous goods and arbitrary no refund after payment policies.

He clarified that statutory consumer rights guarantee repair, replacement or refund for defective goods, rendering illegal any private disclaimers that attempt to override national law.

“The law requires businesses to display prices clearly in the currency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the Keynote Address stated. “When the law gives a consumer the right to a remedy, a business cannot simply rely on notices such as ‘No refund after payment.’ Such notices cannot take away rights guaranteed by law.”

While affirming that education and constructive dialogue remain the primary tools of regulatory engagement, the Commission warned that deliberate non-compliance would attract swift enforcement action. Sanctions under the law include compliance notices, administrative fines, temporary sealing of non-compliant business premises, and court orders for consumer compensation.

The dual regulatory leadership urged trade associations, business owners, and corporate leaders to audit their pricing structures, train frontline staff, and ensure end-to-end transparency across supply chains. Consumers were equally encouraged to remain vigilant, inspect product labels, demand purchase receipts and promptly report market infractions to statutory authorities.