Lagos to prosecute traders selling plastic bottled drinks exposed to sunlight

The Lagos state government has announced plans to ban the sale of plastic bottled drinks that have been exposed to sunlight.

Afolabi Solebo, the general manager of the state Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), disclosed this to NAN on Friday.

He said the move has become necessary as drinks that are exposed to sunlight are harmful.

“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, so that by 2023, we will not only confiscate such drinks but we will prosecute people that are displaying those products under sunlight,” Solebo said.

“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 to buy. So, if you can put dummies in the sun, it has no effect since dummies look like the real thing.”

He encouraged Nigerians to avoid questionable consumables and always ensure they get value for their money on all products and services.

He said consumers had a right to seek redress under the law if they do not get value and satisfaction for their money.

Solebo said consumers, much as they had rights under the law, should also know that they have responsibilities to be careful about items purchased, and also obtain receipts for products bought.

“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,” he added.

“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.”

Solebo also said since he assumed office, the agency has been able to recover over N25 million from the Ikeja Distribution Company (IKEDC) as credit adjustments granted to consumers.

“As of 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,” he said.

“We have also been able to recover from online transactions, POS using ATMs. We were able to get transaction reversals to the tune of N10.41 million.

“We were able to reclaim over $25,000 from a complainant after mediation and deliberations because he was wrong.”