By Monsurudeen Olowoopejo
The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has shut down a shopping mart, Chiffy supermarket, for selling expired household products including toothpaste and others.
As gathered, the supermarket which was located at No 3, Oduduwa Crescent, Ikeja GRA was said to have many expired products on its shelve which should have been disposed of by the owner.
The business premises was sealed by General Manager, LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, who led other officials to carry out the enforcement exercise on Tuesday.
Chiffy supermarket closure came barely 24 hours after the LASCOPA boss acted on an alert received from a whistleblower on the supermarket owner’s business plan in the state.
Upon arrival at the supermarket, Solebo disclosed that the toothpaste and other products found in the store had no price tags and were all expired.
He added that the dates found on them were discovered to have expired in August 2022, November 2022, as well as January 2023, and were sold to unsuspecting members of the public.
According to him, In line with the THEMES Agenda of Mr. Governor, such an act would not be tolerated in Lagos State, while he disclosed that the matter is already before a court of competent jurisdiction for prosecution.
Solebo, who reiterated LASCOPA’s mandate of protecting the interest of consumers against expired, hazardous and substandard products, said that the supermarket would remain shut and placed under surveillance, while samples of the Products confiscated would be destroyed by the relevant Government Agency.
He said the action became necessary in order to rid the State of all forms of unscrupulous and unfair trade practices and to further ensure the safety of consumers from the dangers of expired products which may lead to death without people knowing the cause, . He further stressed that the era of cheating and short-changing consumers in Lagos was over.
Solebo urged members of the public to always speak out if they find a such an act that negates consumers’ safety or visit the Agency’s Head office located at 2b, Soji Adepegba Close, Off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, or any of its Annex offices at Badagry Local Government Secretariat, Bariga LCDA Secretariat, Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA Secretariat, and Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat, call 08092509777, 08124993895 and 09064323154
Me.
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