The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (LASCOPA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, declaring that many consumer disputes are best handled at the state level.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, the Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said the partnership was driven by the urgent need to bring consumer protection closer to the people.
“Many consumer issues arise within states and communities. They are local in character, immediate in effect, and often require rapid intervention. State institutions are therefore indispensable partners in building a credible and accessible consumer protection framework across the federation,” Bello said.
He stressed that the era when consumer protection could be centrally managed from Abuja alone had passed, given the growing complexity of markets and the increasing volume of complaints across sectors.
“Consumer protection is no longer a narrow subject. It now touches nearly every aspect of modern life, transportation, food, housing, healthcare, digital services, financial transactions, e-commerce, pricing, transparency, and the quality of essential services.
“In each of these areas, citizens expect fairness, accountability, and accessible redress where things go wrong,” he added.Bello described the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Commission and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency as a critical step toward improving consumer welfare and promoting fair business practices across Nigeria.
