Lagos Seals Home Affairs Supermarket Over Expired Items

By Dipo Olowookere

One of the retail stores in the Ogba axis of Lagos State, Home Affairs Supermarket tucked on 21, Ijaye Road, has been sealed by officials of the Lagos State government.

The place was shut down on Thursday for allegedly displaying some expired products for sale to unsuspecting members of the public.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Mr Afolabi Solebo, explained that the agency took the action as part of efforts to rid the metropolis of all forms of unwholesome products and ensure that consumers’ rights are protected.

According to him, when LASCOPA arrived at the supermarket, it found on its shelves some expired products such as Kelloggs Krave (Chocolate Hazelnut) and frozen foods.

Mr Solebo lamented that despite several public enlightenment campaigns and warnings by LASCOPA, store managers still sell expired and hazardous products which are inimical to human health in contravention of the state government’s directives on the sale of unwholesome goods.

“I personally discovered the expired items on the supermarket shelves on February 23, 2021, while on a routine check of supermarkets in the area.

“On discovering the expired products, I told the staff to remove the items from the shelves, which they did in my presence, only for the monitoring and enforcement team to [later] go there and discovered that the items have been returned to the promo shelf,” the General Manager of the agency said.

He noted that LASCOPA had to seal Home Affairs Supermarket in the interest of the general consumers in the state, adding that the organisation will not fail to initiate litigation if retail shops and supermarkets do not stop displaying expired products for sale.

While charging consumers not to hesitate to report any supermarket or shops within the state where expired products are sold, he enjoined residents to submit their complaints free of charge by visiting the office of LASCOPA at 2b, Soji Adepegba Close, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, or send correspondence to the agency’s e-mail addresses: [email protected] and [email protected] for necessary action.