Lagos State Government will soon prohibit the sale of plastic bottled drinks exposed to sunlight, according to the general manager, Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Afolabi Solebo.
“Plastic bottled drinks exposed to continuous sunlight are dangerous to health and very cancerous. Therefore, it will be part of our public enlightenment between now and the end of the year,” Mr Solebo told NAN on Friday.
“So that by 2023, we will not only confiscate such drinks but we will prosecute people that are displaying those products under sunlight.
“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.
“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 consumables that kill bit-by-bit should be avoided.
He also urged consumers to always ensure they get value for their money on all products and services rendered to them.
Solebo said consumers have a right under the law to complain if they are not getting value and satisfaction for their money.
The LASCOPA general manager said consumers should also know that they have responsibilities to choose, to look well at what they buy and obtain receipt for every product bought.
“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.
Solebo added that the agency has been able to recover over N25 million from the Ikeja Distribution Company (IKEDC) as credit adjustment granted to consumers since he assumed office.
