Lagos Businesses Face Penalties Over Failure to Display Prices, Label Products
Federal and Lagos State regulators have warned businesses operating in the state to comply with mandatory price tagging, product labelling and consumer refund rules or risk penalties, including fines, sealing of premises and possible prosecution.
The warning was issued during a joint stakeholders’ engagement forum organised by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Alausa, Ikeja.
The forum, themed “Price Tagging, Minimum Labelling Requirements and Return/Refund: The Implications of Non-Regulatory Compliance,” brought together regulators, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, business groups and consumer advocates.
Speaking at the event, LASCOPA’s General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, Afolabi Solebo, said compliance with consumer protection laws was not optional but a legal requirement under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 and the LASCOPA Law 2025 (as amended).
Solebo explained that the partnership between both agencies followed a Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2026 to improve market monitoring and consumer protection across Lagos State, which has a population of over 20 million residents.
He warned that practices such as selling goods without visible price tags, offering expired products, providing misleading product information and refusing valid refund requests weaken consumer confidence and affect fair competition.
“Compliance with pricing regulations, product labelling standards and consumer redress mechanisms is not a matter of discretion; it is a legal obligation,” Solebo said.
He added that clear pricing, accurate product information and accessible complaint channels were necessary for a transparent and healthy business environment.
The FCCPC also stressed the importance of businesses respecting consumer rights.
The Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, represented by the Southwest Regional Coordinator, Dr Olubunmi Dorcas Otti, said regulatory compliance should be viewed as a business advantage because it builds trust between companies and consumers.
The FCCPC highlighted common complaints from consumers, including businesses refusing to display prices before payment, selling poorly labelled or unsafe products and enforcing illegal “no refund after payment” policies.
The Commission clarified that consumers have legal rights to repair, replacement or refunds for defective goods, and businesses cannot use private notices to remove those rights.
“The law requires businesses to display prices clearly in the currency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. When the law gives a consumer the right to a remedy, a business cannot simply rely on notices such as ‘No refund after payment’,” the Commission stated.
Although the regulators said their priority was education and voluntary compliance, they warned that businesses that deliberately ignore the rules would face enforcement measures.
Possible sanctions include compliance orders, administrative fines, temporary closure of non-compliant businesses and court-directed compensation for affected consumers.
Both agencies advised business owners and trade associations to review their pricing systems, train employees and ensure transparency throughout their supply chains.
Consumers were also encouraged to check product labels, request receipts for purchases and report violations to the appropriate authorities.
