LASCOPA Inspects 600+ Stores, Sanctions 238 Outlets Over Fake, Expired Good

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency has launched statewide raids to rid markets, malls, supermarkets and grocery shops of counterfeit, expired and unsafe products.

Leading the operation, LASCOPA General Manager Afolabi Solebo said the surprise inspections are focused on protecting consumers from health and safety risks in the retail sector.

According to Solebo, enforcement teams are checking product certifications, production and expiry dates, and storage conditions. Items that fail safety and quality checks are seized on the spot.

Between January and June 2025, the agency’s Monitoring and Enforcement Department visited 663 stores and supermarkets across the state. A total of 238 outlets, including grocery stores, supermarkets, markets and shopping malls, were penalized for breaching the Consumer Protection Law.

“Consumer safety is non-negotiable,” Solebo said. “This is a clear warning to everyone in the retail chain: if you sell fake, expired, hazardous or substandard goods and we catch you, you will face the full weight of the law. We are committed to winning this fight for every Lagosian.”

He explained that LASCOPA operates under the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Law, 2025 as amended, which guarantees consumers the right to return defective goods. He advised retailers to return expired, defective or unsafe products to suppliers instead of putting them on shelves.

The exercise covered outlets in all 57 Local Council Development Areas in Lagos.

Solebo warned that defaulters risk immediate closure, product seizure, prosecution and other penalties stipulated in consumer protection laws.

He also urged shoppers to stay alert by checking labels and expiry dates before buying, and to report any suspicious or unsafe products through LASCOPA’s official complaint channels.