Ambode Unveils 12-man Board to Boost Ease of Doing Business

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday inaugurated a 12-man board to steer the state Consumer Protection Agency (LSCOPA), which he said had become imperative to complement its reforms on the ease of doing business in the state.

Consequently, the governor explained his decision to constitute the 12-man board, which according to him, resulted from the highest reported cases of daily infractions on the consumer rights the state had recorded in the ranking of sub-Sahara African states.

He expressed the concern at the inauguration of the LSCOPA board at the State House Ikeja yesterday alongside the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem.

At the inauguration, Ambode named Mrs. Olufunmilola Falana as the Chairman of the board, Mrs. Ajoke Olugbode as General Manager, Mr. Jacobs Oduyebo as the secretary, Mrs. Sola Salako Ajulo (member), Mr. Femi Awogbami (member), Mrs. Toki Mabogunje (member) and Dr. Modupeola Adeleke (member) among others.

Ambode explained that the agency was designed “to complement our reforms on the ease of doing business in the state especially as it affects the development of the industrial, commercial and consumer satisfaction value chain.”
He added that the agency would be an effective service centre for the protection of the interests of consumers, settlement of consumer disputes and for other connected purposes as enshrined in the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Law, 2014.

The governor, thus, said his administration had taken another giant stride to guarantee the welfare of the good people of Lagos State on a sustainable basis with the inauguration of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency.
He said the establishment of the agency “is a strong demonstration of our commitment to the protection of the rights of consumers, the promotion of consumer satisfaction in the State and our resolve to ensure that they get value for money spent on goods and services.

“The need for the agency has become more imperative in view of the fact that Lagos State, with its huge population provides the largest commercial market in sub-Sahara Africa, with the highest reported cases of daily infractions on the consumer rights,” he explained.

He justified the appointment of the board members, noting that its members “have been carefully selected both from private and public sectors based on their impeccable character, remarkable track records, experience on the subject matter and passion for the job.

Ambode, thus, charged the board members “to be dutiful and nurture this new agency to become an institution that will guarantee timely delivery of effective services to aggrieved consumers in Lagos State.”

He also urged Lagos residents “to utilise this alternative commercial dispute mechanism that will guarantee reduced time for the resolution of consumer related cases.”