By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives yesterday Mandate it’s Committees on Commerce, Industry, Information, National Orientation and Ethics and Values to invite the Hon. Minister Federal Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adebayo Richard Adeniyi over sub-standard and Counterfeit Products in the country.
Others Agencies to appear before the Committees are Director General /Chief Executive of Standard Organization of Nigeria, Director General Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, to brief the Committees the measures taken so far to proffer lasting solution to the spread of fake and counterfeit goods in Nigeria.
The resolution of the House followed a motion moved by Hon. Chike John Okafor, on the “Need to Investigate the Influx of Fake, Sub-Standard and Counterfeit Products in the country” at the Tuesday session.
Moving the motion, Okafor noted that the Standards Organization of Nigeria is vested with the powers to confiscate sub-standard or counterfeit products, adding that the agency has supervisory and prosecutorial powers against importers, manufacturers and producers of counterfeit products;
According to him, the Standards Organization of Nigeria is yet to live up to its mandate to ensure the standards and quality of products imported into Nigerian or manufactured locally creating value for money for the products.
He added “Worried that the domestic market is awash with all kinds and categories of fake products including electrical, electronics, household appliances and equipment, building materials, automobile parts and the government of Nigeria appears overwhelmed by the enormity of the menace;
“Also worried that sub-standard products manufactured or imported into Nigeria endanger lives and create a disincentive to investments and local production, thereby negating the whole essence of protecting Nigeria industries and have negatively affected the economy as foreign investors and
“Nigerian entrepreneurs who create jobs and contribute significantly to the economy are closing down because of their inability to compete with fake and sub-standard products being dumped in Nigeria;
“Cognizant that the reoccurring tragedy of collapsed buildings has mostly been linked to the usage of substandard building materials imported or manufactured in Nigeria and also that most vehicular accidents have been attributed to faulty sub-standard or expired mechanical parts and tires;
“Also cognizant that goods and other products produced or imported into Nigeria should be of a standards that guarantees quality, save lives, encourages local industries and foreign investments in Nigeria and provides value for money” he said.
The Committees are expected to reports back to the House within 4 weeks for further legislative actions.
