By Henry Umoru
MANUFACTURERS Association of Nigeria, MAN said Tuesday that if Nigeria as a country must address the problem associated with dumping of toxic products in the country must , the Federal government must immediately enacts new laws with stiffer penalties.

Speaking in Abuja at the MAN Brand Protection group stakeholders’ meeting, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Chief Kola Jamodu explained that if the suggestion is implemented by the government, it would help deal with criminal acts of smuggling.

He also disclosed that MAN has set up a group to work with all relevant government law enforcement agencies, non governmental organisations and the organized private sector to fight against counterfeit, fake, adulterated and smuggled products.

According to him, “The manufacturing sector has remained under the siege of substandard products despite the efforts of the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control , and Standards Organization of Nigeria in fighting counterfeiting, smuggling and dumping in Nigeria.

“Over the years, the scourge of fake and substandard products has contributed to the downfall of Nigeria’s real sector with devastating effects in our social structure which has resulted in mass unemployment, crime, kidnappings and many other types of evil.

“In order to tackle this problem , we are pleading with our legislators to expedite action on the passage of the Bill of an Act to repeal and re-enact the counterfeit and fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods Miscellaneous Bill of 2010.

“Also, we are pleading for the promulgation of new Acts with stiffer penalties that deal with criminal acts of smuggling, dumping of toxic products into the country.

These include batteries of all types that are imported and sold in local markets as well as other harmful acidic materials as well as electric products , used or new.
These products are killing both the economy and innocent citizens. Serious and honest manufacturers have great interests and financial benefits, if they are to survive

for long, to ensure that those businesses that are not honest, sincere and straight-forward should not exist.
“International business society had devised legal methods to combat illegal businesses. The Chinese Government has recently investigated and accepted that Chinese manufacturers in collaboration with Nigerian traders connive to cheat Nigerians .

Also speaking on behalf of the MAN Export Group, Mr. Romeo Barberopoulos who noted that with the meeting, Nigeria would achieve greater millage in the battle, said. said, “Illicit trade has been one of the banes of industrial development in Nigeria.

It is a major disaster that has grown more than 10, 000% over the last decades and will continue to grow if joint drastic measures are not put in place to checkmate its growth.
“Despite repeated protests from the manufacturers and policies from government, smuggled, counterfeit and adulterated products still find their way into our markets.

“The World Health Organization (WHO) defines counterfeit as a product, which is deliberately and fraudulently mislabeled with respect to identify and, or, source ingredients or the packaging and presented as a known brand product. The increase in illicit trade adversely impacts our society in four ways.

Many consumers do not know about counterfeit products, and even when they do, they are unable to distinguish between counterfeits and authentic products. Consumers are always deceived by the very low selling prices of fake products, although this is not always true, as it happens in the case of the generic medicines.

“The existence of counterfeit products spoils the good name of genuine products and pushes them out of the market, leading to loss of sales volume, capacity under utilization, higher cost of production and depressed earnings for producers and legitimate trademark owners. Employment is put at risk where there is no effective deterrent against counterfeiting, smuggling and piracy. Illicit and informal trade operators do not comply with government regulations and this leads to loss of revenue for government.”

In his contribution, the Director General of SON, John Akanya, promised that the organization would continue to provide necessary support within the limits of its financial, human and material capacity to help promote the local industries as well as ensure a level playing field for all.