LASCOPA orders Lagos businesses to disclose product changes or face sanctions
By Aboki Forex —
The Lagos State Government has directed all businesses in the state to disclose material changes to their products before introducing them to the market. Failure to do so will attract sanctions under the Lagos State Consumer Protection Law and other applicable regulations.
The directive was issued by the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Afolabi Solebo. It applies to manufacturers, importers, distributors and other businesses operating in Lagos, according to a statement on the official X account of the Lagos State Government.
What Solebo said
Solebo said LASCOPA would intensify market surveillance and enforcement activities to ensure compliance. He warned that businesses found to have implemented undisclosed product changes would be sanctioned.
“The right of every consumer to accurate, clear, and sufficient product information is non-negotiable,” Solebo said.
“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.”
He listed product modifications that must be disclosed. These include changes affecting identity, formulation, ingredients, composition, quality, quantity, packaging, labelling, brand presentation or any other attribute capable of influencing purchasing decisions.
Solebo also urged businesses to adopt a uniform position for displaying the Date of Production (DP), Best Before (BB), Expiry Date (ED), Batch Numbers (BN) and measurements such as grams (g), kilograms (kg), millilitres (ml) and litres (L).
Partnership with FCCPC
The directive comes after LASCOPA and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) disclosed a partnership to address consumer-related challenges. These include price tagging, minimum labelling requirements, and return and refund obligations.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman, Tunji Bello, said consumers must be confident that the price displayed is the price they will pay. Bello was represented by the commission’s South West Coordinator, Olubumi Otti.
Bello said consumers must also be able to rely on information provided about products they purchase.
Solebo said failure to comply with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 and the Lagos State Consumer Law 2025 (as amended) constitutes a regulatory breach. He said such breaches would attract administrative penalties and other sanctions prescribed by law.
He urged consumers to carefully review product labels and compare product information before making purchases. They should report suspected misleading labelling or undisclosed product modifications through LASCOPA’s established complaint channels.
What this means for businesses
LASCOPA revealed in March 2026 that it had resolved more than 11,000 consumer rights violation cases and recovered over N860 million for Lagos residents in the preceding five years.
Solebo said the agency remained committed to ensuring that consumers receive value for money and satisfaction from products and services purchased. He urged residents not to remain silent when their consumer rights are violated.
The latest directive reinforces the Lagos State Government’s efforts to improve transparency in the marketplace. For businesses operating in Lagos, accurate product information is now a binding legal requirement, not a matter of corporate discretion.