30th March, 2021
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, inaugurated 11 members of the Board of Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), chaired by a Human Rights activist and lawyer, Mrs. Funmilola Falana.
The governor also inaugurated 21 members Lagos State Market Advisory Council chaired by the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs.) Folasade Tinubu-Ojo.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Board of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) and Lagos State Market Advisory Council, Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that with Lagos State fast becoming the business hub of Africa, the inauguration of the two boards comes at an auspicious time when all hands must be on deck to maximize the gains of a rapidly growing economy in the State.
He tasked members of the Board of LASCOPA to urgently educate Lagosians on their rights as consumers, what constitutes a violation of those rights and the steps they need for the Board to seek redress on their behalf.
“As I inaugurate the Lagos State Market Advisory Council, I urge you to do all that is required within the ambit of the law to effectively manage and control our markets in line with international best practices. In carrying out your duties, you must consult widely in order to harmonise the interests of all stakeholders.
“In accordance with making Lagos a 21st century economy, which is one of the pillars of our administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda, I implore you to use your new office to seamlessly engage traders, our market men and women and all relevant stakeholders in order to acquaint them with the policies of this administration.
“To the members of the newly constituted Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Board, it is your duty to protect the rights of citizens against unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent business practices, which may result in exploitation, injury, and even loss of lives.
“You must, therefore, perform your duties with a great sense of responsibility. To whom much is given, much is expected. Our consumers are counting on you to protect their rights and interests,” he said.
In his Vote of Assurance, the Chairman of the Special Visitation Panel to LASU, Prof. Bamitale Omole thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for finding members of the Panel worthy of the assignment, promising to ensure that it is done properly, promptly and efficiently.
“I want to assure you (Governor Sanwo-Olu) on behalf of the distinguished members of this panel that we are going to give the assignment our best, not only in examining the issues but also in charting a way forward so that LASU will continue to own its own in the comity of respected and respectable universities in Nigeria.
“In carrying out this assignment, I want to assure you that we shall be fearless, forthright and indeed very objective,” he assured Governor Sanwo-Olu.
In their Vote of Assurance, Falana and Tinubu-Ojo thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for the confidence reposed in them and promised to deliver on their mandates without fear or favour.
Tinubu-Ojo said: “I want to assure Mr. Governor on behalf of Lagos State Market Advisory Council that the council will do the needful and we will not mess up the trust and the confidence you imbibed in us.”
Falana who was reappointed as chairman of the Board of LASCOPA, promised Governor Sanwo-Olu and the entire people of Lagos and by extension Nigerians that they will do more than what is expected of them as custodian of the rights of consumers in Lagos State.