By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Lagos State Government has declared zero tolerance for undisclosed alterations to consumer products, directing all manufacturers, importers, distributors and businesses in the state to immediately disclose any material changes to product brands, packaging, labelling, formulation, ingredients, weight, size, quality or other specifications, or face strict regulatory sanctions.
The directive was issued by the General Manager/CEO of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Afolabi Solebo, Esq., on Sunday,9 August, 2026, in line with the state’s renewed commitment to strengthening consumer protection and eliminating deceptive trade practices.
Solebo said the right of every consumer to accurate, clear and sufficient product information remained non-negotiable, warning that any unannounced alterations capable of misleading consumers would not be tolerated, describing the directive as binding on all businesses in the state.
He explained that any modification affecting a product’s identity, formulation, ingredients, quality, quantity, packaging, labelling or brand presentation must be clearly disclosed before market introduction, and urged manufacturers to standardise the display of Date of Production, Best Before date, Expiry Date, Batch Numbers and measurements such as grams, kilograms, millilitres or litres to ease verification by consumers.
He noted that 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 that would attract administrative penalties and other sanctions, stressing that accurate product information is a legal requirement, not a matter of corporate discretion.
Solebo disclosed that the agency would intensify market surveillance and enforcement to ensure compliance, warning that defaulting businesses would be sanctioned accordingly, while urging consumers to review product labels carefully and report suspected cases of mislabelling through LASCOPA’s social media handles or via email at lasgcopa@gmail.com.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to safeguarding consumer rights, noting that transparency, accountability and fair trading remain essential standards for businesses operating in Lagos State.
