Nigeria’ consumer protection landscape is set for a major boost as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) formalised a strategic partnership to enhance consumer rights enforcement and promote fair business practices across jurisdictions.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, described the agreement as a critical step toward improving consumer experiences and strengthening institutional cooperation.
“Today’s event is significant because it reflects a shared commitment to improving the daily experience of consumers and strengthening fair business conduct through practical institutional cooperation,” he said.
Bello emphasised that consumer protection has evolved beyond a narrow focus, now covering vital sectors such as transportation, food, housing, healthcare, digital services, and financial transactions.
“Consumer protection is no longer a narrow subject. It now touches nearly every aspect of modern life, citizens expect fairness, accountability, and accessibility, and accessible redress where things go wrong,” Bello stated.
He noted that as markets become more complex, consumer complaints increasingly cut across sectors and jurisdictions, requiring regulators to adopt a more coordinated and forward-looking approach.
Bello cited housing-related disputes as a key example, referencing jurisdictional challenges and the need for closer collaboration with state authorities.
He described Lagos as pivotal to the initiative, noting its status as Nigeria’s commercial hub with a high concentration of consumers and businesses.
Speaking, the General Manager of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, described the Memorandum of Understanding as long overdue and critical to effective regulation.
“Today’s signing of the MOU is very historic… it is a long overdue issue by having this collaboration and synergy between the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency,” Solebo said.
Solebo emphasised that while protecting consumers remains a priority, regulators must also ensure fairness to service providers and businesses.
“People want to capture the rights of the consumers, but sometimes you need to protect service providers and people that do sell goods,” he added.
Solebo expressed optimism that the agreement would significantly enhance LASCOPA’s operational capacity.