The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has raised concerns over the alleged manipulation of production and expiry dates on expired and near-expired products being sold in markets and retail outlets across the state.
The General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Afolabi Solebo, said devices and chemicals allegedly used to erase and reprint product dates were being circulated online. He warned that their misuse could enable unscrupulous individuals to reintroduce unsafe and expired products into the market.
Solebo described the practice as a serious violation of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Law, 2025, as amended, noting that the sale of expired products with falsified dates poses significant risks to public health and consumer safety.
According to him, LASCOPA enforcement teams have conducted inspections across the state’s 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, where cases involving suspicious date coding, damaged packaging and questionable products were identified.
He warned that individuals and businesses found engaging in such practices would face appropriate sanctions, including the seizure of affected products, closure of business premises and possible prosecution in accordance with the law.
The agency advised consumers to carefully examine products before purchase and look out for smudged, altered or suspicious production and expiry dates, compromised packaging and other inconsistencies. Residents were also urged to patronise trusted vendors and retain their purchase receipts.
Solebo further called on manufacturers to adopt clear and standardised labelling practices, particularly for batch numbers, production dates and expiry information, to make products easier to trace and verify.
LASCOPA reaffirmed its commitment to sustained monitoring and enforcement across Lagos and urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspected violations through its official complaint channels.
