BY OLABISI OLALEYE
Stakeholders in the home appliance and baby care
industry have lamented the increasing incidence of
counterfeit products, which cost the country about N9
billion annually.
While the country has also lost a whopping N200 billion
annually to adulterated oil, the global economy via a
cross-border trade in physical counterfeit is now $250
billion annually.
Already, over one million individuals have lost their jobs
due to the fact that counterfeiting has made
manufacturing industries and companies to lose huge
revenue.
According to the stakeholders, these are reasons that
every hand should be on deck to wage war against the
hydra headed menace.
Speaking yesterday during the flag off of a new
campaign by Philips (a brand for home appliances),
tagged: ‘Buy Original’, Philips’ General Manager, Mrs.
Chioma Iwuchukwu-Nweke, explained that aside the
fact that the level of counterfeiting is so high in the
country, it misleads the public and presents real risk
when it malfunctions.
While demonstrating how to identify the original from
the fake through a 16 digit security number embedded
in their various products that can be sent to 20822 and
some other measures the company has put in place,
she reiterated that Philips has not stepped down
standards but that every good product can always be
pirated.
“Consumers, in most instances, aren’t even aware they
are buying counterfeit products. Philips wants to put
consumers in a position that they are confident that
they are purchasing original Philips products. A genuine
product is subject to quality and safety control and
would protect the consumers and their family. It also
provides customers the after sales guarantee and the
peace of mind that the after sales commitment will be
honoured.”
She further stated that Philips is tackling counterfeiting
through the launch of the ‘Buy Original’ campaign,
which would introduce effective measures for
consumers to be able to easily identify and verify
Philips’ original consumer appliances and lighting
products.
She disclosed that Philips would be working with
relevant government agencies and organisations
alongside consumers, distributors and other retail chains
because piracy has serious repercussions for
consumers’ health and safety.
“Buyers are often looking for the best deal and are not
necessarily aware of the risks involved in purchasing
counterfeit products. Protecting the consumer is our
number one priority,” she said.
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