Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting residents from the dangers posed by substandard, counterfeit, adulterated and unsafe products, describing the menace as a serious threat to public health, safety and economic development.

General Manager of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Afolabi Solebo, who spoke on the initiative, said that Lagos State, as Nigeria’s commercial hub and gateway for goods entering the country, bears a critical responsibility to ensure that products sold within the state are safe, genuine and fit for purpose.

According to the general manager, the proliferation of fake medicines, adulterated food and beverages, counterfeit electrical materials, expired products, substandard building materials and other unsafe consumer goods continues to endanger lives, undermine legitimate businesses and erode consumers’ confidence.

He noted that the agency had adopted a proactive enforcement strategy centred on market surveillance, intelligence gathering, public enlightenment, stakeholders’ engagement and strategic partnerships with relevant regulatory and security agencies.

“LASCOPA remains committed to creating a safe, fair and transparent marketplace where consumers can purchase goods and services with confidence. Consumers’ protection is a shared responsibility, and we call on manufacturers, distributors, traders and consumers to join hands with the government in eliminating substandard products from the markets,” he said.

He, however, highlighted several achievements recorded by the agency in recent years, including intensified compliance inspections and enforcement operations at over 2,559 retail outlets, resulting in the sealing of supermarkets found selling expired and repackaged products.

The LASCOPA GM, therefore, warned that businesses found selling counterfeit, expired, hazardous, or substandard products risk immediate closure, seizure, prosecution, and other sanctions as provided under the relevant consumer protection laws.

Solebo, who also urged consumers to remain vigilant by carefully checking product information before making purchases, said the public should promptly report suspicious, counterfeit, expired, hazardous or unsafe products through LASCOPA’s official complaint channels.