The selling of drinks in plastic bottles that have been exposed to the sun is currently prohibited, according to the Lagos State Government.
In an interview with the Newsmen on Friday in Lagos, the General Manager of the Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Mr. Afolabi Solebo, stated that “Plastic bottled drinks exposed to continuous sunlight are detrimental to health and exceedingly carcinogenic. Therefore, from now until the end of the year, it will be a part of our public education.
“In order that by 2023 we will not only seize sucj drinks but also prosecute those who are openly displaying them.
“We also want to have a stakeholders’ meeting with manufacturers of those bottled drinks so as to get alternatives for dummy of the products for distributors to display.
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“The essence of displaying those products in the sunlight is to attract consumers to come buy. So if you can put dummies in the sun it has no effect since dummies look like the real thing,” Solebo said.
He urged consumers to constantly make sure they get value for their money on all goods and services provided to them since they have a legal right to complain if they do not receive value and satisfaction for their money and can seek remedy.
Consumables that kill a person bit by bit should be avoided, according to the general manager. He continued by saying that, in addition to their legal rights, consumers had obligations to make informed decisions, carefully consider their purchases, and collect receipts for each item they made.
Since he took office, the agency, according to him, has been able to recover approximately N25 million from the Ikeja Distribution Company (IKEDC) as credit adjustments given to consumers.
“So the consumers do have responsibilities much as they have a right to safety, to be informed, right to clarity and quality of products, the right to choose and the right to be heard.
“Also, they have the right to consumer education and especially the right to seek redress in court or in our office and when we cannot resolve the matter amicably, we resort to litigation.
He said the agency has been able to recoverover N25 million from the Ikeja Distribution Company (IKEDC) as credit adjustment granted to consumers since he assumed office.
“As at September 2020, we recovered N28.46 million from the IkEDC through credit adjustment for consumers through the agency and till date another N7.02 million.
“We have also been able to recover from online transactions, POS using ATM. RWe were able to get transactions reversals to the tune of N10.41 million.
”We were able to reclaim over 25,000 dollars from a complainant after mediation and deliberations because he was wrong,” he said
