In an effort to stop illicit organ harvesting, Lagos State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, declared that the Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation Bill has been signed into law.
During a press briefing at the Ministry of Justice in Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, Pedro provided this information and emphasized the significance of the new law in addition to four other laws.
He pointed out that Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state governor, signed the legislation to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to the prosperity, safety, and well-being of Lagos citizens.
The Lagos Enforcement Training Institute Law, the Consumer Protection Law, the Victims Assistance and Witness Protection Law, and the Fire and Rescue Service Law are among the other recently passed legislation.
As a government, our priorities have always been to address the immediate needs of our citizens, protect their rights, and ensure their safety, health, and prosperity. In this regard, the recently signed laws cover some crucial areas of public welfare, human rights, safety, and environmental sustainability. “These laws have been thoughtfully designed to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing our state while paving the way for a more just, secure, and prosperous future for all residents of Lagos,” he declared. “These laws are not just milestones in the state’s legislative journey; they demonstrate our unwavering commitment to ensuring that Lagos remains a beacon of progress, justice, and opportunity in Nigeria.
The Lagos Consumer Protection Agency Law, according to Lagos State Attorney-General Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, is a major step in bolstering consumer rights throughout the state.
He underlined how crucial it is to protect locals’ interests while Lagos develops as a hub for trade, business, and commerce.
“This law firmly upholds consumers’ rights and gives them the ability to hold companies responsible,” Pedro stated.
He went on to say that breaking the law has severe repercussions, including the power to close businesses that sell dangerous goods, fines of up to ₦5 million, and jail sentence of up to six months or a fine of ₦500,000 for first-time offenders.
The punishments are considerably more severe for repeat offenders, with longer prison terms and fines of up to ₦750,000.
The Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation Law, which Pedro also emphasized, is a revolutionary measure to combat the illicit organ trade and unethical medical practices in Lagos. The legislation forbids the selling of human organs through advertisements and forbids the harvesting of organs without the required authorization.
“This regulation ensures that medical practices adhere to the greatest ethical standards while protecting persons from exploitation,” Pedro explained. Anyone who breaks this rule could be fined up to ₦10 million or imprisoned for up to 10 years.
Furthermore, Pedro talked about the three additional new laws and urged Lagos citizens to become familiar with them and actively assist in their implementation in order to guarantee the security and well-being of the entire community.