… Requests Office Space to Establish Presence
In a bid to stem the tide of unfair trade practices, protect consumers from hazardous and substandard products and also ensure that consumers in Lagos State get value for their money on products and services purchased, the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman, Ojo Local Government, Hon. Rosulu Idowu with a request for a space at the Secretariat to serve as annex office for the Agency.
The General Manager of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo Esq., said for the Agency to effectively ensure that consumers of goods and services are well protected from all shenanigans and unfair trade practices, there is a need to establish its presence in more LGAs and LCDAs across the State to be closer to the grassroots.
He said the establishment of an annex office in Ojo Local Government Secretariat by LASCOPA will ensure that complaints and petitions from the public against persons, manufacturers, service providers and organisations on infractions and infringement on consumer rights can be fast-tracked.
In his words: “The Agency needs to accelerate the dispensation of all complaints, petition, matters and issues concerning infringement on consumer rights and ensure that victims get justice within a reasonable time and are refunded or goods replaced if the service provider, seller or manufacturer of goods are culpable”.
Appealing to the Chairman to consider the Agency’s request, due to the high level of infringement on consumers’ rights being reported daily to the Agency from the area, Solebo reiterated that the visit to Ojo Local Government became necessary to rid the state of all forms of unscrupulous and unfair trade practices and to further ensure the safety of consumers.
In his response, the Chairman of Ojo Local Government Area, Hon. Rosulu Idowu, represented by the Council Manager, Mrs. Yetunde Ajose, pledged the readiness of the Local Government to support the fight against unfair trade practices being meted on consumers in the State.
He described the request of the Agency for an annex office as a welcome development, promising to soon make the office space available for the Agency to handle consumer-related cases within the Ojo Local Government Area Secretariat.
While thanking LASCOPA General Manager for the visit and request for collaboration between the two arms of Government on citizens’ rights, Idowu reiterated the commitment of Ojo Local Government to supporting LASCOPA in its effort to protect the rights of consumers in the State.
