Why we support Competition Law campaign – Lagos

Lagos State government says it is supporting the campaign for Competition Law by a coalition of private sector organisations, civil societies and consumer rights advocacy group because it concerns all.

The state government gave the explanation at the awareness walk by members of the coalition in Lagos. Speaking on behalf of the state government, Rotimi Ogunleye, commissioner for commerce, who received the group in his office, Ikeja, said: “We are in all force with you in this your campaign, and we will tell the various people in the corporate world, the legislature to assist in ensuring that this competition bill is passed by the National Assembly.”

According to Ogunleye, “we also in Lagos State have the consumer protection law, which was enacted in 2014. Here in this ministry, apart from creating the enabling environment for people to produce and manufacture goods, we are very interested in their certification that is why we also collaborate with NAFDAC, SON and various agencies that are involved in ensuring quality control.

“We are taking steps to ensuring that our consumer protection law is made operational so that the agency can really start working because the law is already there, it’s left for us to get it functional.”

The group, which also visited the Lagos Television, Ikeja, explained their mission through Eke Ubiji, spokesperson for the group, soliciting media partnership in the interest of the Nigerian consumer.

“In Nigeria, consumers have suffered for years and no one can take care of their interest. We have been interfacing with members of the public, most of who have no idea what competition bill is all about but we cannot meet to interface with everyone. This is why we have come to ask you to use your medium to disseminate the information so that Nigerians in other parts of the country would hear about it and the bill is passed so the interest of our consumers can be protected,” Ubiji said.

Responding, Deji Balogun, general manager, Lagos Television, said: “I align with the objectives of this coalition. I will look at the objectives that you wish to achieve. Of course, competition drives the market where consumer is king. We agree with you, we’ll support you. We have a lot of platforms, we are the only television station in Lagos that broadcast in all the languages, so you are sure of reaching audiences in six diff languages,” he said.