The Lagos State Government has declared zero tolerance for undisclosed changes to consumer products, directing manufacturers, importers, distributors and other businesses to disclose any material alterations to products before introducing them into the market.
The directive was issued by the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Afolabi Solebo, as part of efforts to strengthen consumer protection, promote transparency and curb deceptive trade practices across the state.
Solebo warned that businesses must clearly disclose changes involving product brands, packaging, labelling, formulation, ingredients, composition, weight, size, quality and other specifications that could influence consumers’ purchasing decisions. He said LASCOPA would intensify market surveillance and enforcement to ensure compliance.
The LASCOPA boss stressed that consumers have a right to accurate, clear and sufficient information about products, adding that undisclosed modifications capable of misleading or confusing buyers would not be tolerated. He warned that defaulting businesses would face regulatory sanctions in line with existing consumer protection laws.
Solebo also called on manufacturers and businesses to adopt uniform standards for displaying essential information such as Date of Production (DP), Best Before (BB), Expiry Date (ED) and Batch Numbers (BN). He urged companies to clearly display measurements, including grams, kilograms, millilitres and litres, to enable consumers to easily verify product details before making purchases.
According to him, compliance with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Law 2025, as amended, is mandatory. He said violations could attract administrative penalties and other enforcement measures prescribed by law.
He further emphasised that accurate product information is a legal requirement and not a matter of choice for businesses. Labels, packaging, advertisements and other consumer-facing descriptions, he said, must truthfully reflect the products being offered for sale.
The agency also urged consumers to carefully examine product labels, compare information before purchasing and report suspected cases of misleading labelling or undisclosed product modifications through LASCOPA’s complaint channels.
Solebo reaffirmed LASCOPA’s commitment to protecting consumer rights and maintaining confidence in Lagos’ marketplace, stressing that transparency, accountability and fair trading remain essential requirements for businesses operating in the state.
