Economic hardship, limited consumer awareness and declining purchasing power are driving the growing trade in fake and substandard products in Nigeria, stakeholders have said.
They noted that as Nigerians struggle with rising living costs, many consumers are increasingly prioritising affordability over quality without fully understanding the risks associated with counterfeit and inferior products.
An importer, Mazi Ezekiel Okonkwo, said the problem was driven not only by economic hardship but also by consumers’ inability to distinguish genuine products from fake ones.
“Things are very hard. People are looking at their pockets and buying what their money can afford. Many consumers may not know whether what they are buying is genuine or fake,” he said.
Okonkwo cited automobile tyres as an example, saying some traders could sell inferior products to unsuspecting customers as cheaper alternatives to genuine brands.
He alleged that some traders also sell counterfeit products at the same prices as genuine ones because consumers are unaware of how to identify them.
According to him, some sellers exploit consumers’ lack of knowledge by claiming that cheaper alternatives offer the same or even better quality than established brands.
He said the problem extended beyond automobile tyres to food products, electrical bulbs, cables and other consumer goods.
While some consumers knowingly opt for cheaper products, he noted that others were unaware that the products they purchase are counterfeit or substandard.
Okonkwo cited China as an example of a country capable of producing goods to different quality specifications for different markets.
“China produces for the US, they produce for Germany, they produce for France; it depends on the quality,” he said.
He, however, blamed weak enforcement and alleged corruption among some enforcement personnel for worsening the circulation of substandard products.
He called for stronger consumer education and more effective regulatory action to protect Nigerians from the dangers associated with fake and substandard goods.
Prosecute Sellers of Substandard Cables — Coleman MD
The Managing Director of Coleman Wires and Cables Industries Limited, George Onafowokan, has called for the prosecution of individuals involved in the sale of substandard cables.
Onafowokan said the failure to prosecute offenders had continued to encourage cable adulteration in Nigerian markets, posing risks to consumers and undermining genuine manufacturers.
He said the problem was concentrated largely in the markets rather than among established cable manufacturers.
“We are 100 per cent against adulterated and fake cables. The key problem is our markets across the country. The adulteration is not done in the offices but in the markets,” he said.
Onafowokan expressed concern that despite the dangers associated with substandard electrical cables, sellers were rarely prosecuted for distributing them.
“We have not seen anyone prosecuted for selling substandard cables in Nigeria; it is time relevant government agencies take decisive action against offenders,” he said.
He urged regulatory authorities to strengthen enforcement and prosecute traders involved in the distribution of adulterated cables, arguing that effective sanctions would deter others and restore confidence in the Nigerian electrical products market.
Weak Enforcement Behind Surge in Fake Products — Dealer
A dealer in electrical appliances, Peter Momodu, also blamed weak enforcement for the continued circulation of fake and substandard products in Nigeria.
Momodu said smuggling, demand for cheap goods, profit-driven importers and manufacturers, low consumer awareness and the difficulty of monitoring the country’s vast market were contributing to the problem.
He also alleged that corruption had weakened regulatory processes, allowing some substandard products to enter the market.
Momodu called for stronger accountability, improved surveillance and tougher enforcement to protect consumers and legitimate businesses.
“Ultimately, the fight against fake products requires accountability at every level. As the saying goes, ‘when the head is sick, the whole body is sick’. This underscores the need for leadership and institutions to demonstrate the commitment required to tackle the menace that endangers millions of lives in our country,” he said.
He acknowledged efforts by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to curb the circulation of counterfeit products but said the agency continued to face challenges, including inadequate manpower, limited resources, porous borders and weak enforcement of existing regulations.
“Fake products can never be removed from the market. The people behind it know themselves, and I cannot begin to mention names,” Momodu added.
