LASCOPA recovers N145m from banks, discos over consumers’ rights

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has recovered over N145m from different commercial banks and electricity distribution companies that have infringed on consumers’ rights.

The agency’s general manager Mr Afolabi Solebo revealed this while fielding questions to newsmen during the celebration of the International Day of the Boy- Child organised by Wellspring College over the weekend.

Breaking down the figures, he stated that the agency has recovered over N107m from both the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) and Eko Distribution Company, stressing that the agency remains resolute to mitigating consumer breaches.

“The agency has recovered over N80m from IKEDC as credit adjustment for Lagosians and over N27m credit adjustment when it comes to Eko Discos,” he said.

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He added that the agency has also recovered over N38m from different commercial banks from erroneous electronic transfers using the debit cards for either Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and Point of Sale (POS) machines.

“We have recovered from different banks to the tune of over N38m be it erroneous transfer using ATM or POS,” he said.

He reiterated the state’s stance of frowning over erring supermarkets not displaying the prices or selling expired products to the public.

“The most important is supermarkets not displaying prices, not displaying prices of their goods or selling products that are expired to members of the public, that the state actually frowns at and no matter where it goes, consumers in Lagos State must be protected,” he said.

He urged consumers to blow the whistle over any breaches, stressing that the agency has created synergy with both the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to prevent infringement of consumers’ rights.

“We also do this by synergies with other regulatory bodies like the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission that will come to Lagos with their team for enforcement and also SON, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, even the police and the judiciary.

“So, our synergy will reduce to the nearest minimum the breach of consumer rights in Lagos State. People should be vigilant and watch out for things like that and they should report,” he said.