The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, declaring that many consumer disputes are best handled at the state level.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, the Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said the partnership was driven by the urgent need to bring consumer protection closer to the people.
“Many consumer issues arise within states and communities. They are local in character, immediate in effect, and often require rapid intervention. State institutions are therefore indispensable partners in building a credible and accessible consumer protection framework across the federation,” Bello said.
He stressed that the era when consumer protection could be centrally managed from Abuja alone had passed, given the growing complexity of markets and the increasing volume of complaints across sectors.
“Consumer protection is no longer a narrow subject. It now touches nearly every aspect of modern life, transportation, food, housing, healthcare, digital services, financial transactions, e-commerce, pricing, transparency, and the quality of essential services. In each of these areas, citizens expect fairness, accountability, and accessible redress where things go wrong,” he added.
Bello described the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Commission and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency as a critical step toward improving consumer welfare and promoting fair business practices across Nigeria.
He said the agreement underscored a shared commitment to strengthening institutional cooperation for the benefit of consumers.
“It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the FCCPC and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency. Today’s event is significant because it reflects a shared commitment to improving the daily experience of consumers and strengthening fair business conduct through practical institutional cooperation,” he said.
Bello noted that consumer protection had evolved beyond a narrow regulatory function to become a critical element of everyday life, cutting across multiple sectors that directly impact citizens.
“Consumer protection is no longer a narrow subject. It now touches nearly every aspect of modern life. It concerns transportation, food, housing, healthcare, digital services, financial transactions, e-commerce, food safety, pricing, transparency, advertising practices, and the quality of essential services. In each of these areas, citizens expect fairness, accountability, and accessible redress where things go wrong,” he stated.
He added that as markets become increasingly complex, consumer complaints have also grown in sophistication, often spanning multiple jurisdictions and requiring coordinated regulatory responses.
“As markets become more sophisticated, complaints also become more complex. Consumers now face issues that cut across jurisdiction and acceptance. This reality requires regulators to be coordinated, responsive, and forward-looking. That is why this partnership matters,” Bello said.
The FCCPC boss further highlighted the Commission’s mandate under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, noting that it has continued to deploy a combination of enforcement, advocacy, and consumer engagement strategies to safeguard the marketplace.
“FCCPC was established under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 to promote competition, protect consumers, and ensure fair market practices across Nigeria. Since then, the Commission has pursued enforcement actions, market surveillance, consumer complaints resolution, advocacy, and sustained public education,” he explained.
He added that the Commission had also intensified engagement with businesses to ensure compliance while providing accessible channels for consumers to seek redress.
“We have continued to engage businesses on compliance obligations, investigate harmful market practices, encourage voluntary collective action where appropriate, and provide consumers with channels through which they can seek redress,” Bello said.
However, he emphasised that effective consumer protection cannot be driven solely from the federal level, noting that many issues originate at the grassroots.
Bello, a former Lagos commissioner, drew from his experience to argue that state governments are better positioned to handle grassroots consumer disputes, particularly in housing and urban development.
“I recall the 2003 Supreme Court judgment in Attorney General of Lagos State versus Attorney General of the Federation, which established that urban and regional planning is a residual matter under state control. Yet, we receive numerous petitions on housing issues here in Abuja. It has become impractical for us to handle such matters centrally.
“If you consider complaints like someone paying millions of naira for a house that was never delivered, or disputes over tenancy and property, these are issues that require local intervention. How many of such cases can officials from Abuja realistically handle across states?” he said.
Bello described Lagos as a critical partner in the new approach, citing its status as Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre.
“Lagos occupies a unique position. It is home to a vast concentration of consumers, businesses, digital platforms, and financial activity. It is a dynamic and fast-moving market where regulatory innovation is not just necessary, but consequential,” he said.
He noted that the presence of the FCCPC’s South-West Zonal Office in Lagos would further strengthen day-to-day collaboration between both agencies, particularly in complaints handling, intelligence sharing, and consumer education.
“This memorandum of understanding is intended to deepen cooperation between our institutions in practical ways. It provides a framework for information sharing, complaint reference, joint consumer education initiatives, capacity development, market intelligence exchange, and coordinated action where legally appropriate.
“It is not merely a preliminary document, it is an operational instrument designed to improve outcomes for citizens. Through this collaboration, consumers should be able to offer quicker responses, clearer pathways for complaints, stronger awareness of their rights, and better coordination between federal and state authorities,” Bello added.
On his part, the General Manager of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, described the agreement as long overdue, noting that consumer protection requires synergy between federal and state institutions.
“You cannot work in silos. We have the federal body, and in many cases, you need that federal strength to achieve results. That is why this collaboration is very important,” he said.
Solebo revealed that the Lagos agency had already recovered significant sums for aggrieved consumers, particularly in the aviation sector.
“From local and international airlines, we have recovered over N40m and more than $10,000 for consumers. But recently, our jurisdiction has been challenged. That is why we are excited, we now have the backing of the FCCPC,” he stated.
He added, “When consumers do not get value for money, it defeats the purpose of spending. With this partnership, we are confident that we will better tackle exploitation and unfair trade practices.”
Bello used the occasion to call on other states to establish or strengthen their own consumer protection frameworks, stressing that a coordinated system would boost confidence in Nigeria’s markets.
“While national standards are important, each state faces distinct challenges that require tailored responses. Strong state-level institutions working in harmony with federal regulators will significantly improve trust in the marketplace,” he said.
He emphasised that the FCCPC remained committed to expanding similar partnerships across the country.
“We welcome as many collaborations with states as possible. Partnerships like this succeed not by signatures alone, but by sustained commitment after the ceremony,” he added.
The FCCPC was established under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018 to promote fair competition and protect consumers nationwide. Since its inception, the Commission has handled enforcement actions, market surveillance, and consumer complaint resolution across multiple sectors.
However, the rising volume and complexity of consumer issues, especially in fast-growing urban centres, have exposed the limitations of a centralised system.
The new FCCPC-LASCOPA partnership reflects a broader shift towards decentralised regulation, where states act as first responders while federal authorities provide oversight and coordination.
For consumers, the agreement is expected to translate into faster complaint resolution, improved access to redress, and stronger protection against exploitation in everyday transactions.
As the FCCPC boss put it, “Together, we can build markets that reward enterprise, protect consumers, and inspire confidence.”
