*The Upper Legislative Chamber of the National Assembly has considered for a second reading a Bill for an Act to introduce measures against the manufacturing, production, possession, and distribution of counterfeit goods in the Nigerian economy

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As a measure to protect the wellbeing of consumers, the Nigerian Senate is considering   a Bill for an Act to introduce measures aimed against the manufacturing, production, possession, and distribution of counterfeit goods in the country.

ConsumerConnect gathered the bill Wednesday, November 24, 2021, passed through second reading in the Upper Legislative Chamber of the National Assembly (NASS), in Abuja, FCT.

Fake HP products in Nigerian warehouse   Photo: ThisDay

The bill was read the second time and referred to the Committee on Trade and Investment, which was asked to report back within four weeks.

Earlier sponsored by Senator Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun State), the bill also provides for a criminal investigation into counterfeiting, and seeks to make the prosecution of such a crime less cumbersome to provide effective control of counterfeit goods.

Amosun, while presenting the lead debate on the bill in the Senate, explained that the proposed legislation was imperative as existing legislations have largely been limited, restrictive, and weak in enforcement mechanism.

According to him, these include the Trademark Act, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Act, and Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act.

Senator Tolu Odebiyi, seconding the bill, noted he believes it will increase domestic  production and create jobs for Nigerians, if the volumes of counterfeit goods that come into the country are reduced.

Odebiyi said: “This bill is a bill that is very apt and appropriate today. I think this kind of bill that will criminalise the sale of counterfeit goods will only make our economy stronger.

“I think we also have to bear in mind that we strengthen our counterfeit laws so that Nigeria does not become a dumping ground for all counterfeit goods that are going to be brought into the country.”

The bill further seeks to protect owners of trademarks and copyright against the release of similar (counterfeit) goods into the channels of commerce.