…Admonishes students to know their responsibilities and rights as consumers
The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), recently extended its sensitisation and awareness programme to schools in Lagos State to educate and enlighten students on their rights as consumers as a way of expanding the reach of its Consumer Advocacy Initiative.
The General Manager, LASCOPA, Mr. Afolabi Solebo represented by the Director, Consumer Education, Folashade Ashaye, stated that the initiative was geared towards ensuring that students are adequately informed and enlightened at the formative stage on the activities of the Agency and, by extension, be aware of their responsibilities as well as rights, and exercise such when the need arises.
He stated that another objective of the sensitisation programme was to educate the public, particularly students, on their responsibilities as consumers, and their rights under the law, adding that such rights include the right to safety, information, right to be heard, right to choose, right to a healthy environment, right to consumer education and the right to seek redress if infringed upon.
Solebo said that LASCOPA was established to address series of public complaints ranging from injurious expired products, unfair trade practices usually perpetrated by manufacturers and marketers of goods and services.
According to him, “the protection of the rights of consumers since the establishment of LASCOPA has taken the centre stage because the State Government realised the need to treat consumers, especially Lagos consumers, being the nerve centre for economic activities, as kings who have rights under the law to be protected”.
Speaking on the importance of knowing one’s Rights under the Consumer Protection Act, he implored the students and consumers of goods and services to realise they have responsibilities to carry out, saying that a consumer who is aware of his or her rights can bring changes to the society and would in turn help to enlighten other consumers and fight the unfair trade practices.
His words: “We are out to ensure that we put a stop to all shabby and illegal practices in Lagos State. We know the adverse effect fake and substandard products can have on the consumers who are our citizens and we are out to protect them. They need to know their rights, they need to be informed, they have the right to be heard and also know their responsibilities as consumers as well.”
He added that a consumer should always ask for a cash memo or receipt while making a purchase and check for the standard marks that have been introduced for the authenticity and quality of the product or service.
While educating the students not to allow their consumer rights be infringed upon, Solebo urged them to always exercise all the rights they have, be watchful of product information on what they buy, particularly consumable products, and ensure they get receipts for what they purchase.
He disclosed that the LASCOPA has been able to assist different categories of aggrieved parties and individuals, who sought redress from the Agency to recover their money or products from manufacturers of goods and services, revealing that the Agency recently recovered from a reputable insurance company, the sum of N6,291,831 following three complaints on insurance policies.
Solebo, however, assured that the sensitisation programme will be a continuous exercise as the Agency plans to take it to Technical Colleges and Schools, Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas and Lagos State Tradesmen and Artisans Associations.
