Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has warned manufacturers of products, service providers and shop owners to desist from molesting, intimidating or harassing its personnel on monitoring and enforcement duties, as culprits will henceforth be made to face the full weight of the law.

General Manager of the Agency, Mrs. Kemi Olugbode stated this while responding to a report on the harassment of the Agency’s personnel during a monitoring and enforcement exercise to confiscate expired products found at Liffs and Michs Supermarket, Gbagada.

She said, “Henceforth anybody or retail outlets found obstructing or hindering the Agency’s personnel in the course of their duty will be heavily sanctioned through prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others”.

According to her, the State Government will not fold its hands and watch sellers of expired products, often purchased by unsuspecting consumers, go scotfree with their unwholesome and criminal acts, just as she reminded traders of the provision of section 26 of the Consumer Protection Law of 2014 which empowers the Agency to prosecute offenders through the established Consumer Protection Court in the State.

Speaking further, the Agency boss maintained that it is foolhardy for any offender to think the State Government will look the other way to any infringement or infraction on the rights of consumers who are expected to always derive pleasure and satisfaction from products purchased.

While reminding manufacturers and service providers of the Agency’s powers as provided in the law, the General Manager stated clearly that the incident at the Liffs and Michs Shopping Complex will never be allowed to repeat itself, as the Agency will maximally enforce the law.