FG Urged to Step up Fight against Counterfeiting

The federal government has been urged to intensify its effort in the fight against the influx of counterfeit products in the country.

This was even as investors within and outside Nigeria have expressed displeasure over the huge losses being incurred on a daily basis due to fake manufacturers, despite government commitment to curb their menace. Recent report from Global Intellectual Property Centre (GIPC) world-wide revealed that cross border trade in physical counterfeits costs the global economy $250 billion a year. To this end, the General Manager of Philips Consumer Lifestyle, West Africa, Mrs. Chioma Nweke, pointed out that over 50 per cent of Philips product sold in the markets are not original, a situation which she said puts the company in a big financial risk.

She added that Philips acknowledges efforts by Nigerian government in putting an end to the scourge of counterfeiting, stressing however that government needs to do more by ensuring a bill that will address counterfeiting and substandard products is passed into law. This, she said is also expected to see the enforcement of penalties as well as synergy between relevant security agencies. “I can assure you that if government is seamless about the fight against the menace, counterfeiting will become a history in Nigeria.”

Nweke made this known during a media briefing to inaugurate Phillips’ “Buy original” campaign to complement government’s effort in the fight against counterfeiting and to raise consumers’ awareness on how to identify Philips original products in the market.”

She added: “The issue of counterfeit products has serious repercussions for consumers’ health and safety. Buyers are often looking for the best deal and are not necessarily aware of the risks involved in purchasing a counterfeit products. The Philips “Buy Original” Campaign will not only allow consumers to easily identify a Philips original but empower them to take the necessary steps in reducing counterfeit trading in the country.”

The General Manger of Philips Lighting, Felix Darko, also identified some of the brand products that fall prey to counterfeiting to be irons, kettles, blenders, Philips Avent baby bottles and some of its lighting products such as tubes, starter, energy saving lamp and fluorescent tubes.

According to him, “in Nigeria, a number of Philips lamps sold are counterfeits, cheap component found in the counterfeit lamps such as the driver which regulates electrical voltage causes the lamp to fail well before its stated life time. Also, it can prove to be a hazard because of the poor construction. Counterfeits are therefore dangerous to consumers.”

He urged consumers to get the original by watching out for some distinguishing features such as spelling of the brand “Philips” which he said is spelt as “Phillips” in fake product, the hologram “Original” on product package, the 16 digits security code to be texted 20822 for immediate verification of product’s authenticity as well as quality of prints which will give an imitated products away.