Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency has intensified its routine inspection operations across supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies, markets, and shopping malls as part of a renewed campaign to eliminate counterfeit, expired, hazardous, and substandard products from the marketplace, with officials inspecting 663 stores and supermarkets between January and June 2026. The intensified enforcement exercise, led by the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, is aimed at protecting consumers by identifying retailers and distributors stocking products that pose serious health and safety risks to the public. As part of the exercise, LASCOPA officials conduct unannounced inspections, verify product certifications, examine production and expiry dates, assess storage conditions, and confiscate products that fail to meet the required safety and quality standards.
Solebo reaffirmed the agency's unwavering commitment to consumer protection, warning that businesses found selling counterfeit, expired, hazardous, or substandard products risk immediate closure, seizure, prosecution, and other sanctions under the relevant consumer protection laws. "Consumer safety is non-negotiable. We are sending a clear message to every operator in the retail value chain: if you trade in fake, expired, hazardous, or substandard products and you're caught, you will face the full wrath of the law. This is a battle we are determined to win for every Lagosian," Solebo said.
The inspection exercise covered supermarkets, grocery stores, markets, and other retail outlets across all 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State. According to LASCOPA, 238 grocery stores, supermarkets, markets, shopping malls, and other retail outlets were found to have violated the Consumer Protection Law during the review period. The agency recovered over N450 million for consumers through its interventions, monitored over 1,200 markets, supermarkets, stores, and service outlets, received 4,412 complaints from consumers, and successfully resolved 3,687 of the cases through mediation and enforcement mechanisms.
LASCOPA's intensified crackdown follows a series of enforcement actions in recent months. In May 2026, the agency sealed a shop on Lagos Island over the alleged sale of adulterated palm oil, warning consumers to be cautious and ensure they purchase from verified sources. The agency also alerted consumers about artificially enhanced palm oil being sold by unscrupulous traders in markets across the state. In the same month, the Lagos State Government banned the use of petroleum tankers in the transportation and distribution of edible oil as part of efforts to strengthen food safety and hygiene standards. In June 2026, LASCOPA expanded its reach with the establishment of annex offices across strategic locations in the state to improve residents' access to consumer protection services and complaint resolution mechanisms.
The agency has also been actively involved in public awareness campaigns, educating residents on consumer rights, how to identify fake products, and available channels for reporting violations. During activities marking the 2026 World Anti-Counterfeiting Day and World Food Safety Day, observed annually on June 6 and June 7, Solebo disclosed that LASCOPA would sustain both routine and unannounced inspections of markets, supermarkets, warehouses, and distribution centres across the state, with a view to identifying and pulling harmful products from circulation. The agency also warned consumers about lead-contaminated products and partnered with SRADev Nigeria to advance environmental health and consumer protection objectives.
Solebo noted that the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency was established under the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Law, 2025 (as amended) to protect consumers' rights and promote fair trade practices. He explained that the law provides consumers with the right to return defective goods and urged store owners and operators of supermarkets, grocery stores, markets, shopping malls, and other retail outlets to return expired, unsafe, defective, or substandard products to their suppliers or distributors instead of displaying or selling them to unsuspecting consumers.
The General Manager urged consumers to remain vigilant by carefully checking product information before making purchases and encouraged members of the public to promptly report suspicious, counterfeit, expired, hazardous, or unsafe products through LASCOPA's official complaint channels. He reiterated that LASCOPA remains the statutory agency responsible for protecting the rights and interests of consumers in Lagos State, promoting fair trade practices, and ensuring that only safe, genuine, and quality products are available in the marketplace.
The intensified enforcement exercise is part of the Lagos State Government's broader commitment to safeguarding residents from unsafe, expired, substandard, and counterfeit goods and food products across the state. As Solebo put it: "Consumer safety is non-negotiable". The message to retailers and distributors is clear: the sale of fake, expired, or hazardous products will not be tolerated, and those caught will face the full weight of the law. For consumers, the message is equally clear: vigilance is key, and the agency is committed to ensuring that every Lagosian can shop with confidence.
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