World Anti- Counterfeiting Day: Stakeholders rally government against fake products

Funso Olojo I

A non-profit organisation Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration (ACC). has mounted a strong lobby on the Federal Government to take a strong stance against the issue of counterfeiting and fake products currently ravaging the country.

To this end, the group, created in 2007 and consisting of multinational companies, entertainment players, lawyers and other manufacturers whose products and creative works are being abused, has embarked on an advocacy campaign to pressurise government to upgrade the laws against counterfeiting and strengthen the enforcement.

Mr Desmond Adeola, the Chairman of the Advocacy group, disclosed that ACC has gotten the commitment of the Executive and the legislative arms of government towards enactment of adequate

laws as well as relevant government agencies for strengthening enforcement.

Adeola, who is also the Head of Brand Protection in Africa for Unilever Nigeria Plc, disclosed this Wednesday in Lagos at the World Counterfeiting Day.”

He said that the Executive has initiated anti-counterfeiting bill which will be transmitted to the National Assembly for passage.

Similarly, Adeola stated that all the relevant agencies such as National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Consumer Protection Council, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Communications Council and Nigeria Police have all showed commitment towards strict enforcement of the law.

“The bill is currently with the Minister of Trade and Industry from where it is expected to be transmitted to the National Assembly for deliberations and passage,” he disclosed.

The theme of this year’s World Counterfeiting Day is “a cry for help”.

The ACC Chairman pleaded with all Nigerians to join the Advocacy group in crying out to the Executive to expedite action on the bill so it could be transmitted to the National Assembly for enactment.

“Counterfeiting is not only on medicines but on all other products, including creative works.

“So it is a problem for all, both rich and poor”.

Adeola further disclosed that the Advocacy group, in collaboration with foreign support, is currently organising training programmes for the Nigeria Customs, NAFDAC and SON, in the area of identification of counterfeit products while the group has also signed an MoU with these agencies on the need for strict enforcement.

“Last week, we had a group called Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP) from Brussels who came to organise training for the law enforcement agencies for the purpose of strengthening enforcement.

“The American Business Council intervened in the area of setting the legal framework while the ACC is promoting inter -agencies MoU with NAFDAC, SON, Nigeria Police Nigeria Customs, NCC and Consumer Protection Council “.

Adeola expressed optimism that with this comprehensive collaboration amongst the stakeholders, there is hope for success in the fight against counterfeiting in the country.

He lamented that due to weak regulatory framework, Africa has become a dumping ground for fake products.

“Europe protects its market but unfortunately, African market is unprotected but left at the mercy of both local and foreign counterfeiters”‘ he bemoaned.

Representatives of multi nationals at the show included Johnson & Johnson, NIROPHARM, GSK, Unilever, Entertainment Foundation, SPROXIL and a host of others.