- Lagos Warns Businesses Against Secret Changes to Consumer Products
- Says Businesses to Disclose Changes to Product Labels, Weight, Ingredients
- Warns Firms Over Misleading Product Information
The Lagos State Government has warned manufacturers, importers, distributors and other businesses against making undisclosed changes to consumer products, saying violators will face regulatory sanctions.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the warning was issued by the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) as part of renewed efforts by the state government to protect consumers and curb deceptive trade practices.
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LASCOPA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, Afolabi Solebo, said businesses must disclose any material changes to their products before they are introduced into the market.
He said the requirement covers changes to product brands, packaging, labelling, formulation, ingredients, composition, weight, size, quality and other specifications that could influence consumers’ purchasing decisions.
Solebo said LASCOPA would intensify market surveillance and enforcement to ensure compliance, warning that businesses that fail to disclose such changes would be sanctioned under the Lagos State Consumer Protection Law and other applicable regulations.
“The right of every consumer to accurate, clear, and sufficient product information is non-negotiable. Manufacturers and businesses must understand that any unannounced alterations capable of misleading or confusing consumers will not be tolerated,” he said.
He added that the directive was binding and that LASCOPA would apply the full force of the law against defaulting businesses.
According to Solebo, any modification affecting a product’s identity, formulation, ingredients, composition, quality, quantity, packaging, labelling or brand presentation must be clearly disclosed.
He also called on manufacturers and businesses to adopt a uniform format for displaying important information such as Date of Production (DP), Best Before (BB), Expiry Date (ED) and Batch Numbers (BN).
Businesses were similarly urged to standardise the placement of measurements, including grams (g), kilograms (kg), millilitres (ml) and litres (L), on product packaging.
Solebo said standardising the presentation of such information would make it easier for consumers to identify and verify key product details before making purchases.
He warned that failure to comply with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 and the Lagos State Consumer Law 2025, as amended, would constitute a regulatory breach and could attract administrative penalties and other sanctions prescribed by law.
The LASCOPA boss stressed that accurate product information was a legal obligation and not a matter left to the discretion of businesses.
He said product labels, packaging, advertisements and other descriptions presented to consumers must accurately represent the goods being offered for sale.
Solebo also urged consumers to remain vigilant by checking product labels carefully and comparing available information before making purchases.
He encouraged residents to report misleading information and undisclosed product changes through LASCOPA’s complaint channels.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting consumers and promoting confidence in Lagos’ marketplace, stressing that businesses operating in the state must uphold transparency, accountability and fair trading practices.
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