By LAJA THOMAS

Nigerian Ropes Plc, a leading manufacturer of ropes in Sub – Saharan Africa, yesterday raised alarm over falsification of its products by unscrupulous individuals and organisations who forged its test certificate.

Briefing newsmen at the company’s corporate headquarters in Lagos, the Managing Director, Mr Joao Pereira, said: “Nigerian Ropes Plc has observed with evidence that her products test certificate are being falsified by some ‘ropes businessmen’ to cover substandard imported wire ropes.

“Currently, about five companies based in Port Harcourt are suspected to be involved in this  practice and investigation is ongoing to established the culprits who shall be prosecuted. What these people do is to fake our test certificate and claimed it is a product of Nigerian Ropes. It is a crime and it is not acceptable. We have began legal proceedings against them.

“From August 2013, we have commenced actions to mitigate faking of our test certificate and this includes changing of the software which we used to design our existing test certificate format, creation of new seal, changing the paper colour.

“It has more security features and new password on it, which is known only to management of the company and we have open a direct lines whereby our clients can reach us to confirm the authentification of the product.

“We are worried over the risk this faking poses to the end users of our products. It can causes injuries and even death to the end users.

“We, therefore, instigate this alert for caution, and advice stakeholders in the ropes’ business using Nigerian Ropes products to always ensure that genuine Nigerian Ropes products with corresponding certification are not just assumed but confirmed.

“Our message to the fakers is ‘beware, we are going to catch you. We will prosecute you legally.

“To our client in the oil and gas, mining, fishing, construction and shipping industries, we say stop playing with the lives of your employees because if you patronize contractors supplying fake ropes (Chinese ropes), it can lead to serious injuries and even death. Shell Petroleum is a good partner because they always confirm whatever they buy from us.”