Hardship, ignorance fuel fake goods trade — Stakeholders

Economic hardship, ignorance and dwindling purchasing power are fuelling the growing trade in fake and substandard goods in Nigeria, with consumers increasingly settling for cheaper products without fully understanding the risks involved, stakeholders have said.

They said the situation had become particularly troubling as many Nigerians struggle to meet their daily needs, forcing them to prioritise price over quality.

They added that consumers who are unable to differentiate between fake and genuine products could easily fall victim to unscrupulous traders.

An importer, Mazi Ezekiel Okonkwo, said the problem was not only linked to poverty but also to consumers’ inability to identify genuine products.

“Things are very hard. People are looking at their pockets and buying what their money can afford. Many consumers may not know whether what they are buying is genuine or fake,” he said.

Okonkwo illustrated the situation with automobile tyres, explaining that some traders could present inferior tyres to unsuspecting customers as cheaper alternatives to original products.

He said some traders also sell fake products at the price of genuine ones because buyers are unaware of how to differentiate between them.

According to him, “some buyers may not know that a product is fake, but the seller will claim it is another quality that can serve the same purpose and even better. They will tell you, ‘The price you are demanding is not enough to get you the brand you are requesting; buy this other alternative.’”

He added that ignorance among consumers made it easier for traders to pass off counterfeit or substandard products, particularly when buyers were attracted by significantly lower prices.

Okonkwo said the challenge extended beyond tyres to food products, electrical bulbs, cables and other goods, noting that while some consumers knowingly choose cheaper products, others are unaware that what they have purchased is fake.

The importer cited China as an example of a country capable of producing goods of different quality specifications for different markets.

“China produces for the US, they produce for Germany, they produce for France; it depends on the quality,” he said.

He, however, blamed weak enforcement and alleged corruption among some enforcement personnel for worsening the problem, claiming that some traders were able to get substandard goods into the market through corrupt practices.

He argued that eliminating counterfeit products completely would be difficult as long as economic hardship, consumer ignorance, demand for cheap goods and weak enforcement persisted.

He called for greater consumer awareness and stronger regulatory action to protect Nigerians from the dangers associated with fake and substandard products.

Prosecute sellers of substandard cables — Coleman MD

The Managing Director of Coleman Wires and Cables Industries Limited, Mr George Onafowokan, called for the prosecution of individuals involved in the sale of substandard cables, saying the failure to punish offenders was fuelling cable adulteration in Nigerian markets.

Onafowokan, who expressed concern over the persistence of fake and adulterated cables, said the challenge was concentrated largely in the markets rather than among established cable manufacturers.

He said, “We are 100 per cent against adulterated and fake cables. The key problem is our markets across the country. The adulteration is not done in the offices but in the markets.”

According to him, the absence of prosecution for those selling substandard cables had continued to undermine efforts to tackle the menace and protect consumers from potentially dangerous electrical products.

Onafowokan said, “We have not seen anyone prosecuted for selling substandard cables in Nigeria; it is time relevant government agencies take decisive action against offenders.”

He called for stronger enforcement and prosecution of traders involved in the distribution of adulterated cables, saying effective punishment would help deter others and restore confidence in the Nigerian electrical products market.

Weak enforcement behind surge in fake products — Dealer

A trader and dealer in electrical appliances, Mr Peter Momodu, said government agencies had not been firm enough in enforcing regulations.

Momodu said fake and substandard products continued to thrive in the country due to smuggling, high demand for cheap goods, profit-driven importers and manufacturers, weak consumer awareness and the difficulty of monitoring the country’s vast market.

He also alleged that corruption had compounded the situation, with some officials allegedly compromising regulatory processes and allowing substandard goods to enter the Nigerian market.

He called for stronger accountability, improved surveillance and tougher enforcement to protect consumers and genuine businesses.

“Ultimately, the fight against fake products requires accountability at every level. As the saying goes, ‘when the head is sick, the whole body is sick’. This underscores the need for leadership and institutions to demonstrate the commitment required to tackle the menace that endangers millions of lives in our country.

“Despite efforts by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, to curb the influx and circulation of fake products, the battle remains challenging due to inadequate manpower, limited resources, porous borders and weak enforcement of existing regulations.

“Fake products can never be removed from the market. The people behind it know themselves, and I cannot begin to mention names,” Momodu added.