The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on consumer protection enforcement and the replacement of hazardous products in Lagos, among other areas.
The MOU was signed between the Commission’s CEO, Mr. Tunji Bello, and the General Manager of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, at a ceremony attended by Nairametrics.
The legal document stipulates that both parties recognise that mutual collaboration and cooperation in protecting consumers are vital to achieving an optimal, stable, and reliable goods- and services-based market, consistent with their respective mandates.
What the MOU says
According to the MOU seen by Nairametrics, the parties, in recognition of their joint and mutual responsibilities, are to ensure the effective, efficient, and coordinated discharge of their respective functions for the benefit of consumers and business operators in Lagos State.
On the scope of the MOU, the parties agreed to cooperate and collaborate in discharging their respective functions with respect to consumer protection, including but not limited to information sharing, complaint resolution (including providing relief to affected consumers or communities and the replacement of hazardous products), consumer and business education, training, and capacity development.
Both agencies will also ensure compliance monitoring and enforcement of consumer protection laws and subsidiary legislation, as well as undertake joint initiatives strictly related to consumer protection matters.
- To achieve the objectives of the MOU, the parties agreed to “establish a Joint Task Force (JTF) for the management, monitoring, and implementation of the scope of this MOU or any activity arising therefrom.”
- Both agencies further agreed that any fines, fees, or penalties imposed as a result of joint investigations or enforcement actions shall be “shared equally between the parties unless otherwise agreed in writing.”
Regarding funding, unless otherwise mutually agreed, each party shall provide its own funding or other necessary financial support toward achieving the objectives of the MOU.
More insights
Speaking at the event, Bello said Lagos, being Nigeria’s leading commercial hub, is home to an enormous concentration of consumers, businesses, digital enterprises, logistics networks, financial activity, and service providers.
He added that the state is also a place where regulatory innovation is both necessary and consequential.
- He encouraged close operational cooperation between the FCCPC and LASCOPA, particularly in the areas of complaint handling, intelligence sharing, consumer education, and coordinated interventions where necessary.
- He described the MOU as an operational instrument designed to improve outcomes for citizens while providing a framework for market intelligence exchange and coordinated action where legally appropriate.
- He added that the FCCPC is committed to encouraging states across the federation to enact, strengthen, or renew their consumer protection legal frameworks in ways that reflect local realities and peculiar market conditions.
For his part, Solebo stated that LASCOPA was created by legislators to address citizens’ rights.
He added that the agency has achieved a lot for the state but emphasised that “we cannot work in silos; we need federal might.”
He explained that transportation is one area where collaboration between the parties is important and within the purview of the FCCPC.
What you should know
LASCOPA is the government body responsible for protecting consumer rights and promoting fair trade practices in Lagos State.
- The agency was established to address complaints from consumers, mediate disputes between businesses and customers, and ensure compliance with consumer protection laws.
- Beyond resolving disputes and recovering funds for affected residents, LASCOPA also serves as a regulatory watchdog against harmful goods and unfair business practices in the state.
- Recently, LASCOPA announced that it resolved more than 11,000 consumer rights violation cases and recovered over N860 million for residents in the last five years.
The disclosure was made by the agency’s General Manager, Afolabi Solebo, during a roadshow held in Lagos to commemorate World Consumer Rights Day.
