Nigeria’s consumer protection regulator has entered into a cooperation pact with Lagos State authorities to boost enforcement against unsafe goods, market misconduct, and unfair trade practices in Africa’s largest city economy.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency announced on Thursday that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration on consumer protection enforcement, complaint resolution, and market surveillance.

The agreement was formalised in Lagos by FCCPC Chief Executive Tunji Bello and LASCOPA General Manager Afolabi Solebo at a ceremony attended by key stakeholders.

Under the arrangement, the two agencies said they would work together on several consumer protection matters, including the withdrawal and replacement of unsafe products, coordinated enforcement operations, consumer and business awareness campaigns, and capacity-building programmes.

The FCCPC said the initiative forms part of a wider strategy to reinforce consumer protection nationwide by fostering stronger coordination between federal and state regulators.

Under the agreement, both agencies pledged to share information and carry out coordinated interventions whenever consumer harm is identified, particularly in Lagos, which they described as Nigeria’s most densely populated commercial centre.

“The parties recognise that mutual collaboration and cooperation in protecting consumers are vital to achieving an optimal, stable, and reliable goods- and services-based market,” the document stated.

A central component of the agreement is the establishment of a Joint Task Force to drive implementation of the cooperation framework, oversee compliance monitoring, and coordinate enforcement actions where required.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission said the move is part of a broader plan to bolster consumer protection nationwide by enhancing coordination between federal and state authorities.

Speaking at the signing, Bello said Lagos occupies a pivotal position in Nigeria’s consumer economy given its dense concentration of businesses, financial institutions, logistics providers, and digital platforms.

He added that closer collaboration between the two agencies would enhance complaint resolution and enforcement effectiveness, while also improving the exchange of market intelligence.

“This MoU is an operational instrument designed to improve outcomes for citizens while providing a framework for coordinated action where legally appropriate,” Bello said, according to the statement.

He added that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is urging state governments nationwide to reinforce their consumer protection frameworks in line with local market realities.

In his remarks, Solebo said the agency had made notable strides in advancing consumer protection in Lagos, but emphasised the importance of deeper institutional collaboration.

“We cannot work in silos; we need federal might,” he said.

He noted that sectors such as transportation would benefit from closer regulatory coordination.

Consumer protection is emerging as a stronger policy priority in Nigeria as regulators confront a surge in complaints over product safety, service standards, and deceptive practices across both traditional and digital marketplaces.