The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) on Tuesday sealed Bazaar Supermarket located at 31, Aromire Street, Ikeja, for displaying products with inadequate information as part of its continuous efforts to rid the State of all forms of unwholesome products and ensure that consumers’ rights are protected.
According to a statement, the General Manager of LASCOPA, Mr. Afolabi Solebo Esq., items including Croaker Steak, Checkerboard Cookies, Peanut Butter and Prawns found conspicuously displayed on the shelves in the supermarket had no information such as the date of production, expiration and manufacturer’s details.
He explained that the monitoring and enforcement team of LASCOPA visited the supermarket on February 24, 2021, during a routine monitoring exercise when the items were noticed and the management was instructed to remove the products from the shelf, but the outlet failed to comply with the directive after a revisit by the agency, insisting that such products would not be removed from their shelves until after 21 days.
The General Manager noted that the flagrant disobedience to a lawful directive from a government agency as well as the poisonous and unhealthy danger posed by consumption of such products resulted in the sealing of the Supermarket, stressing that the era of selling hazardous products to the public without useful information to protect consumers is gone.
He pointed out that the Agency had to seal Bazaar Supermarket in the interest of the consumers in the State, adding that LASCOPA would not fail to initiate litigation if retail shops and supermarkets do not display product information on their commodities.
While charging consumers not to hesitate to report any supermarket or shops within the State where such products are sold, he enjoined residents to always ensure to check the information contained on the label of items about to be purchased.
Solebo, therefore, implored all members of the public to submit their complaints about any infractions on purchased products or services in its office at 2b, Soji Adepegba Close, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja or send correspondence to the Agency’s e-mail addresses: lascopa@lagosstate.gov. ng and lascopa@gmail.com for necessary action free of charge.
