Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has urged consumers and producers to foster an enduring partnership and collaboration rather than adversarial relationships that can impede sustainable growth and development of the economic value chain.
The Governor stated this at the Conference and Exhibition organised by the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) to commemorate 2024 World Consumer Rights Day, held on Friday at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The call for mutual understanding, according to the Governor, reflects a broader acknowledgement of the interconnectedness of economic actors and the need for harmonious interactions to address challenges, innovate and adapt to changing market dynamics.
“Consumers and producers are not adversaries but rather partners in a complex economic ecosystem. While consumers rely on producers to supply goods and services, producers, in turn, depend on consumers’ demand to drive their businesses forward”, he said.
The Governor promised that his administration will continue to create an enabling environment that promotes fair competition, protects consumer rights, and supports the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Hon. Abiodun Tobun called for more funding from the government to enable the Agency to expand its reach and attend to more complaints from the public.
Tobun advised the Agency to strengthen its relationship with the judiciary to ensure speedy trial of court cases bordering on breach of consumers’ rights to increase confidence in the activities of the Agency.
He advised the agency to also evolve and align with the present purchasing trends, understand consumer dynamics and embrace the use of technology where appropriate.
“LASCOPA can also have established independent laboratories where tests can be conducted and the status of products certified for necessary actions”, the Lawmaker stated.
World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated on March 15 of every year when consumer interest groups organise programmes and events to highlight pressing issues being faced daily by consumers globally while proffering possible solutions and adopting policies to celebrate the day.
