The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, LASCOPA, has called on traders in the State to be more cautious with the manner of displaying and handling consumable products, in order to ensure consumer protection.
The General Manager, LASCOPA, Mrs. Kemi Olugbode, gave this charge today, Thursday, July 30, 2020 at the opening of a 2 day capacity training programme on unwholesome sales of powdered milk organized by LASCOPA for traders in Agege Main Market.
Mrs. Olugbode said that it became necessary for the Agency to organise capacity building programmes for traders so as to enlighten them on the proper and acceptable ways of not only displaying powered milk but also handling the product.
She disclosed that a pilot scheme of the event started with the traders at the Ojuwoye market in Mushin earlier this year, adding that the project commenced as a result of the growing concern to profer better method for handling and sales of powdered milk in the open market.
The General Manager noted that a Team from LASCOPA had carried out investigation on the current practice of handling and sales of powdered milk in the open market by visiting and taking photographs of the situation in some markets in the State.
Mrs. Olugbode said that the findings of the investigation led to the Agency continued consulting with some powdered milk manufacturers and the executives of Ojuwoye Market in Mushin and it was concluded that capacity training be organized for powdered milk traders on better ways to handle the product for it not to be hazardous to consumers.
She stressed that industrial powdered milk is not for direct consumption but the production of other consumable products.
According to her, LASCOPA was established and empowered by law to defend the rights of consumers against any infringement while also protecting them from all forms of unwholesome or hazardous products .
Earlier in her remarks, the Iyaloja of Agege Main Market, Alhaja Monsurat Ajayi Adeyemi thanked the Agency for the initiative and pledged the support of the market executive and traders towards it.
Ibukunoluwa Temitope
