In a decisive move to safeguard public health and restore market integrity, the Lagos State Government has escalated its enforcement campaign against counterfeit, expired, adulterated, and substandard products, warning that commercial premises caught violating consumer protection laws face immediate closure and criminal prosecution.
​Addressing journalists on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at a press briefing held in the Conference Hall of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) Headquarters in Ikeja, the General Manager of the agency, Mr. Afolabi Solebo, declared a zero-tolerance policy against unscrupulous merchants operating within the state.
​Solebo revealed that recent intelligence reports and routine market surveillance had uncovered alarming instances of product tampering across several major markets and retail hubs in Lagos.
Unethical traders, he noted, have been caught re-labeling expired packaged foods, diluting edible cooking oils with hazardous chemical dyes, and circulating substandard household items to unsuspecting buyers.
​”The Lagos State Government will no longer tolerate practices that compromise the health, safety, and economic wellbeing of our citizens,” Solebo stated firmly during the 10:00 AM briefing. “Any manufacturer, distributor, supermarket operator, or open-market vendor found offering fake, expired, or adulterated products for sale will have their business premises sealed immediately. Furthermore, the individuals involved will be arrested and prosecuted under the full extent of the law.”
​The General Manager emphasized that the enforcement drive is anchored in the Lagos State Consumer Protection Law of 2014 (as amended) and reinforced by national consumer protection standards.
He added that LASCOPA taskforce units, operating in coordination with law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies such as NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), have been deployed across all 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas to execute unannounced inspections.
​Highlighting the agency’s expanded focus, Solebo warned that the crackdown extends beyond traditional physical markets to e-commerce vendors and digital merchants operating within the state. Premises will also be shut down if business operators repeatedly ignore official summons or fail to comply with orders issued following consumer dispute mediation sessions.
​To ensure seamless public participation, the government urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious commercial activities or substandard items. Consumers can lodge complaints directly by visiting the LASCOPA office at 2, Soji Adepegba Close, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja.
​Solebo reassured law-abiding business operators that the initiative aims to foster a fair and transparent market environment, not to stifle commerce. He urged trade associations and market leaders to self-regulate and ensure their members adhere strictly to quality and safety standards.
