The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to address consumer complaints in real estate.
The partnership would also address consumer issues in transportation sector, particularly in airline operations and other sectors of the state.
Signing the MoU in Abuja on Tuesday, the Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, said the collaboration was necessary for effective consumer protection that could not only be delivered from Federal Capital Territory (FCT) alone.
He said that many consumer issues usually arose within states and communities hence, the need to partner with consumer protection agencies in the states.
Bello, who said the commission had received various consumer complaints on real estates, housing, called for more collaboration with various agencies in charge of consumer protection in the states.
According to him, many consumer issues are local in character, immediate in effect, and often requires rapid intervention.
”Today’s event is significant because it reflects a shared commitment to improving the daily experience of consumers and strengthening the fair business conduct through practical decision and cooperation.
”Consumer protection is no longer a narrow subject.
”State institutions are therefore indispensable partners in building a credible and accessible consumer protection framework across the Federation.
”As markets become more sophisticated, complaints also become more complex.
”Consumers now face issues that cut across jurisdictions and sectors. This reality requires regulators to be coordinated, responsive and forward-looking. That is why this partnership matters,” he said.
Bello recollected a Supreme Court judgement in 2023 which established that urban and regional matters were residual matters under the control of states and not Federal Government.
He said that working together with states would help the Commission to better address consumer issues.
”I therefore encourage close operational cooperation at that level, particularly in the areas of complaints and the intelligence sharing, consumer education, and coordinated interventions where necessary,” he said.
The General Manager of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, said the collaboration was aimed at addressing the myriad of consumer complaints in transportation sector particularly as it concerned airlines.
According to him, we believe that the issue of air transportation is within the purview of FCCPC but on our own, we have tried.
Solebo said the agency had recovered over N40 million and $10,000 dollars customers’ funds from both local and international airlines.
He said that recently, the jurisdiction of the agency in some consumer issues had been challenged.
”We are here to sign this MOU. I can’t wait to go back to Lagos and shout to all Lagosians that we have more powers; that our big brother have decided to join forces with us.
”And we can assure you that with this collaboration and synergy, we are going to work assiduously to ensure that the rights of consumers in Lagos State are not only protected, but will stop the issue of exploitation and unscrupulous trade practices,” he said.
