Assistant Director,(Prosecution), Nigerian Copyright Commission, Lynda Alphaeus(left); Trade Commissioner / Managing Director, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO), Shigeyo Nishizawa; Director, Inspectorate and Compliance, Standard Organization of Nigeria(SON), Bede Obayi and Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Pre- Assessment Report Unit, Nigeria Customs Service, Mohammed Babandede, at a seminar on anti –counterfeiting, organised by JETRO and SON in Lagos. PHOTO: NAJEEM RAHEEM
Worried that continued infringement on rights of traders’ mental properties might restrict influx of investments within the nation, the Japanese authorities has sought Federal Government’s intervention in strengthening anti-counterfeiting measures in Nigeria.
As said by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), many Japanese merchandise have been being imitated in Nigeria, thus creating considerations for potential enterprise pursuits within the nation.
The Trade Commissioner/Managing Director of JETRO, Shigeyo Nishizawa, throughout a discussion board on Nigeria-Japan anti-counterfeiting seminar in Lagos, yesterday, stated Japanese firms can be showcasing and differentiating their authentic merchandise from the pretend objects as a measure to create consciousness to enforcement businesses and the general public.
The First Secretary, Head of Economic and Commercial Section, Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, Yasuhiro Hashimoto stated authorities wants to enhance the enterprise setting by defending mental properties so as to appeal to investments into the nation.
He also stated that the variety of Japanese firms within the nation has risen from 13 in 2010 to 40 this 12 months, noting that others have indicated curiosity within the Nigerian market.
On his half, the Director-General of Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Osita Aboloma defined that authorities’s ease of doing enterprise was being undermined by counterfeiters and purveyors of sub-standard merchandise.
Aboloma, who was represented by the company’s Director, Compliance, Bede Obayi stated: “One of the recognized sources of substandard merchandise internationally is counterfeiting which in itself is illicit commerce. It has been a main source of fear to governments, companies and regulatory establishments in developed and creating economies.
“The case of Nigeria with her huge population and market, particularly within the West African region and the continent presents a worrying scenario for the negative effects of counterfeiting and the illicit trade associated with it”.
He cited lack of awareness, customers’ complicity and weak regulatory frameworks as a part of the explanations liable for the thriving counterfeiting enterprise, including that SON was intensifying efforts in combating the scourge by collaborating with different businesses.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) stated the company has been selling mental property consciousness to verify counterfeiting and commerce in such items.
Ali, who was additionally represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General, Muhammad Babandede sought collaboration of key stakeholders in checking the smuggling of mental properties within the nation.
As said by him, with out data, there may be little that enforcement businesses can do.