The Lagos State Government has issued a firm directive to all manufacturers, importers, distributors and business operators within the state to immediately disclose any alterations made to consumer goods or face strict regulatory sanctions.

The mandate, issued by the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), establishes a zero-tolerance policy against unannounced changes to product formulations, packaging, labeling, ingredients, weight, size, quality or overall brand presentation.

These directives issued by the General Manager /CEO, Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Afolabi Solebo, Esq., is in line with the State Government’s renewed commitment to strengthening consumer protection, promoting transparency in the marketplace, and eliminating deceptive trade practices.

The General Manager/Chief Executive Officer added that the Agency will intensify market surveillance and enforcement activities to ensure full compliance, warning that businesses found to have implemented undisclosed product changes will be sanctioned in accordance with the Lagos State Consumer Protection Law and other applicable consumer protection regulations.

“The right of every consumer to accurate, clear and sufficient product information is non-negotiable. Manufacturers and businesses must understand that any unannounced alterations capable of misleading or confusing consumers will not be tolerated. This is a binding regulatory directive and LASCOPA will apply the full force of the law against any defaulting organisation,” Solebo stated.

He explained that any product modification affecting identity, formulation, ingredients, composition, quality, quantity, packaging, labelling, brand presentation or any other attribute capable of influencing consumer purchasing decisions must be clearly disclosed before market introduction.

Solebo urged manufacturers and businesses to adopt a uniform position for displaying the Date of Production (DP), Best Before (BB), Expiry Date (ED), Batch Numbers (BN), as well as displaying of measurements such as grams (g), kilograms (kg), milliliters (ml), or litres (L) on their products, stating that standardizing its placement would make it easier for consumers to locate and verify essential product information before making purchasing decisions.

According to him, failure to comply with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 and the Lagos State Consumer Law 2025 (As amended) constitute a regulatory breach and will attract appropriate enforcement actions, including administrative penalties and other sanctions as prescribed by law.

The General Manager/CEO reiterated that accurate product information is a legal requirement and not a matter of corporate discretion, stressing that all labels, packaging, advertisements and consumer-facing descriptions must truthfully represent the products offered for sale.

Solebo also urged consumers to remain vigilant by carefully reviewing product labels, comparing product information before making purchases and promptly reporting suspected cases of misleading labelling or undisclosed product modifications through LASCOPA’s established complaint channels such as Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter) or Email: [email protected]

He reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to safeguarding consumer rights and maintaining confidence in the marketplace, noting that transparency, accountability, and fair trading remain essential standards for all businesses operating in Lagos State.