Lagos State government says it is imperative that manufacturers of goods and services in the state deliver safe and wholesome products to their customers or collide with the laws.
The state commissioner for commerce, industry and cooperatives, Olayinka Oladunjoye, stated this at a briefing, Thursday, to commemorate the 2019 International Consumer Day, noting that Nigeria cannot operate in isolation from the rest of the world.
The international consumer day is marked annually on March 15 and meant to raise awareness on the rights of consumers of goods and services around the globe. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Trusted Smart Products.”
In the last one year, the state government had been seen upping efforts at ensuring that consumers of goods and services get value for their money, following the establishment, in 2018, of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA).
Read Also: https://businessday.ng/columnist/article/economic-crisis-urgent-need-for-a-team-plan/
Oladunjoye told newsmen that this year’s celebration would be specifically dedicated to raising awarenesses on the danger of substandard products, especially phones and related smart devices, hence the decision to take the campaign to the the Ikeja computer village, today (March 15).
According to the commissioner, in line with the 2019 theme, trusted smart products should be such that deliver value to the consumers or users.
“Smart products can connect, share and interact with its user and other devices via different internet and communication connections. They’re devices that collect and analyse user data and transmit it to other connected devices in a network of internet of things,” said Oladunjoye.
She added that given the expectations of a user or consumer when buying these smart products, they should be such that can indeed be trusted to maximally deliver on their functions.
“As a stakeholder in the business of ensuring that consumers’ rights are protected, as encapsulated in the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Law, Lagos State Government is set to ensure that consumers in the state enjoy full benefits of smart products even from the first use after purchase,” she said.
The commissioner added that this has become necessary against the realisation that smart products have become a part of people’s lives, and in a way raised security and safety concerns.
“These issues have brought to the fore the need to develop consumer protection frameworks that promote trust, starting from consumer education. It’s our belief that all manufacturers would take cognizance of the rights and interests of consumers of smart products from the point of production up to the point of purchase,” she stressed.
Joshua Bassey
