The stakeholders in the Maritime sector on Wednesday advocated for an outright embargo on goods from countries where sub standard products were being imported into Nigeria as a way of discouraging them from embarking on such venture.
Delivering a lecture titled, “Building an enduring Private/Public Partnership in the Maritime Sector”, at a one day stakeholders forum on the Maritime industry organized by the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) in Lagos, the Secretary General, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Dr. Emmanuel Ogu Oparah stated that only when this was done could Nigeria get her war against Fake and sub standard products right.
Dr. Oparah disclosed that countries like the United States of America and the United Kingdom would not condone importation of goods from some countries into their countries calling on the government to do the same here in Nigeria so as to encourage the local manufacturers.
According to him,” we would want to see the public sector advice the government to place perpetual embargo on goods coming from the countries where sub standard products are being imported into the country. We need enforcement of public sector regulatory roles which should wear a human face but not detrimental to the nation’s economy”.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director-General of SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu decried the impact of fake and sub standard products on the Nigerian economy adding that a lot of local manufacturing industries had closed down as they could not compete with the sub standard products imported into the country.
Dr. Odumodu while reminding the stakeholders of the important place they occupy in the economy of the country also beckoned on them to be so committed as not to allow any kind of goods into the country through the seaports.
“On my assumption of office, I was worried by the level of sub standard products in this country because investigations have shown that over 90% of sub standard products in Nigeria come from outside the shores of this country and majority of them pass through the nation’s seaports”.
“A lot of local manufacturing industries have closed down because they have not been able to meet up with the competition from the sub standard products imported into the county. As you know, some of these sub standard products can kill. We all have the responsibility, as Nigerians we must build a better society for our children”, he said.
He therefore advised the freight forwarders to insist on clearing genuine products adding that as freight forwarders, they could make more money when genuine and standard products were imported into the country than they make from sub standard ones.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Maritime Services, Mr. Leke Oyewole reminded the stakeholders that they were all responsible and must act responsibly adding that all hands must be on deck in finding a lasting solution to the myriads sub standard products in the Nigerian markets.
He said,” we must decide what product enters into the country as certain goods manufactured in some countries cannot be allowed in the United States of America. If some goods manufactured in some countries could not be allowed into America, how then can we allow them into Nigeria? We should all collaborate together to win this war against sub standard products in the country”.
