Lagos authorities instruct police and lawyers to forward consumer complaints to LASCOPA.

The Lagos State Government has instructed the police, lawyers, and other law‑enforcement bodies to forward consumer‑related complaints to the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) for proper investigation, mediation, and resolution.

In a statement released by the state government, officials said the directive is intended to ensure that consumer disputes across Lagos are handled appropriately.

The instruction was announced by Afolabi Solebo Esq., the General Manager of LASCOPA, during a mediation session held at the agency’s office in Ikeja.

Solebo explained that consumer protection agencies were established to safeguard consumers’ rights and interests while encouraging fair and ethical business practices in the marketplace.

He noted that complaints suitable for consumer protection agencies include the sale of counterfeit, substandard, expired, or hazardous products, among others.

The statement read in part: “Issues that should be reported to consumer protection agencies include the sale of fake, substandard, hazardous, or expired products; false advertising and deceptive business practices; overpricing and hidden charges; unfulfilled promotions or discounts; poor service delivery; refusal to honour warranties or agreements; as well as other forms of consumer exploitation and abuse,” he said.

Solebo advised residents to keep receipts, invoices, product packages, warranties, and other relevant documents that can serve as evidence when filing complaints and resolving disputes.

The LASCOPA chief reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to protecting consumers from unfair and unethical business practices, urging residents to use the appropriate regulatory channels when seeking redress.

He also appealed to Divisional Police Stations, Area Commands, State Commands, Zonal Commands of the Nigeria Police Force, and other law‑enforcement agencies to redirect consumer‑related matters to agencies legally empowered to handle such complaints.

Solebo further urged legal practitioners to encourage their clients to seek resolution through LASCOPA in cases involving consumer rights violations before resorting to court litigation.

He stressed the importance of consumers understanding both their rights and responsibilities, adding that residents should always speak up and report violations responsibly.

According to him, complaints can be reported to LASCOPA or the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) through their official social media platforms.