Federal and state regulatory authorities have intensified their joint campaign against market infractions in Lagos, issuing a firm directive to businesses to strictly comply with mandatory price tagging, product labelling and legal refund obligations or face administrative penalties, sealing of premises and prosecution.
The
charge was delivered during a Joint Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum co-hosted by
the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the
Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) at the Lagos Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Alausa, Ikeja.
The
forum, themed “Price Tagging, Minimum Labelling Requirements and Return/Refund:
The Implications of Non-Regulatory Compliance,” brought together key regulatory
partners, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),
alongside industry leaders, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and
consumer advocacy groups.
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Delivering
the welcome address, the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of LASCOPA,
Afolabi Solebo, Esq., declared that compliance with market regulations is a
mandatory legal requirement under both the Federal Competition and Consumer
Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 and the LASCOPA Law 2025 (as amended).
Solebo
emphasized that the joint initiative operationalizes a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) signed between both agencies in April 2026 to enhance
institutional synergy, market surveillance and consumer protection across Lagos
State, serving over 20 million residents.
“Compliance
with pricing regulations, product labelling standards and consumer redress
mechanisms is not a matter of discretion; it is a legal obligation,” Solebo
said. “Displaying goods without price tags, selling expired products,
misleading consumers with deficient labelling, and refusing legitimate requests
for returns and refunds are systemic gaps that erode consumer confidence and
distort fair competition.”
Outlining
the core objectives of the forum, Solebo noted that transparency in pricing,
detailed product labelling and accessible redress channels are essential
pillars for a healthy commercial ecosystem.
He
reassured attendees that the forum was designed as a platform for collaborative
engagement and voluntary compliance rather than a punitive tribunal.
Echoing
these sentiments, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the FCCPC, Mr. Tunji
Bello, represented by the Southwest Regional Coordinator of the Commission, Dr.
Olubunmi Dorcas Otti, stressed that regulatory compliance is fundamentally a
strategic business asset that builds market trust.
Addressing
common retail violations, the FCCPC Chief highlighted everyday
consumer grievances, including non-disclosure of prices prior to checkout,
unlabelled or hazardous goods and arbitrary no refund after payment policies.
He
clarified that statutory consumer rights guarantee repair, replacement or
refund for defective goods, rendering illegal any private disclaimers that
attempt to override national law.
“The
law requires businesses to display prices clearly in the currency of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the Keynote Address stated. “When the law gives a
consumer the right to a remedy, a business cannot simply rely on notices such
as ‘No refund after payment.’ Such notices cannot take away rights guaranteed
by law.”
While
affirming that education and constructive dialogue remain the primary tools of
regulatory engagement, the Commission warned that deliberate non-compliance
would attract swift enforcement action. Sanctions under the law include
compliance notices, administrative fines, temporary sealing of non-compliant
business premises, and court orders for consumer compensation.
The
dual regulatory leadership urged trade associations, business owners, and
corporate leaders to audit their pricing structures, train frontline staff, and
ensure end-to-end transparency across supply chains. Consumers were equally
encouraged to remain vigilant, inspect product labels, demand purchase receipts
and promptly report market infractions to statutory authorities.
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