NaijaPositive.com

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5442

Nafdac's War Against Foreign Toothpastes

Excerpt: The defaulting Colgate is said to contain an anti-freezing agent, Diethyline Glycol (DEG), said to be injurious to health. The NAFDAC would not mention any other brand. It prefers instead to emphasize that it has not certified any toothpaste brought into the country from abroad. Akunyili said China and India are the sources of most counterfeit drugs and related products entering the country. Recent reports indicated influx of contaminated foods, drugs, cosmetics, and toys into countries around the world from China.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200709040959.html
_________________
May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5442

Customs Intercept 480,000 Cartons of Fake Marlboro Cigarettes

Vanguard
Godwin Oritse
2 Jan. 2008

The Apapa Command, Area I Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confiscated a total of 480,000 packets of fake Marlboro brand of cigarettes shipped from China following a tip off from Philip Morris, manufacturers of the original Marlboro cigarettes.

The fake cigarettes which are made in China and brought into Nigeria from the Asian country is currently under the custody of the Command. Sources close to the Nigeria Customs Service disclosed that men and officers of the Command swung into action immediately it received the information concerning the presence of the fake item on the Nigerian waters.

In a Memo with reference number NCS\APO\A047\S.7\C\VOL.VCUSTOMS to a law firm (names withheld) acknowledging the receipt of the letter informing the command of the container of fake cigarettes, the Apapa Customs confirmed the interception of the container and invited the law firm to meeting for more information with regards to the consignment and its importers

As at the time of filling this report, nobody has been arrested with regards to the importation of the cigarettes which also falls into the category of banned imports.

Part of the memo which was dated 15th of November 2007 reads "I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter on the above subject dated 26th October 2007 and to inform you that the said container NO CMAU 8146300 has been intercepted. "You are hereby invited to come to our office volunteer information on the content"

Manufacturers of genuine cigarettes have expressed concern over the large consignment of counterfeited cigarettes will ensure that these fakes products does not find its way into the supply chain and into the hands of unsuspecting consumers. Besides the health hazards of consumption of fakes products, the lost of revenue to government through payment of duties is unquantifiable.

The Apapa Customs Command since the new Area Comptroller Mr John Atte took over the leadership of the command, the activities of fraudulent importers and agents has been reduced. In an interaction with maritime reporters, Atte warned that the days of fraudulent importers and agents are over as his administration will not condone any form of sabotage.
_________________
May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5442

South African Police Intercept N4bn Lagos-bound DVDs

Adeola Balogunt
19 Jan 2008

Two consignments of counterfeit DVDs valued at R200 million (about N4 billion) have been intercepeted at the Tambo International Airport in Gauteng, South Africa by the country’s security officials. The consignments, which arrived South Africa from Dubai, had been despatched from China and were on their way to Nigeria.

South African medium, Independent Online, reports that the cargo, which was seized on January 2, included 147 containers packed with about 2.3 million movies. Also found were containers packed with compact DVD players and fake Armani and Dolce&Gabana suits.

The number of titles in the single seizure equals the total confiscated by the Southern African Federation Against Copyright Theft (SAFACT) since its inception in 1999. SAFACT’s chief executive officer was quoted as describing the haul as ‘mind-boggling.’ He said the bust dwarfed SA’s previous record of R1.1 million (N20 million) titles in 2006 and was likely to be the biggest yet in Africa.

According to reports, some of the boxes contained counterfeit Nokia cellphones, neatly packed into official-looking boxes that would be difficult to distinguish from real ones. According to South African national police spokesperson, Captain Dennis Adriao, the shipment had originated in China and travelled to Dubai and South Africa. Its final destination was Lagos in Nigeria, but the DVDs were due to be smuggled back into South Africa.

He said the smugglers knew that products from Far-East Asia were strictly inspected in South Africa. He said they might have believed a transit cargo would not undergo the same thorough checks. “Each of the containers held an average of 650 DVD discs and each disc contained about 25 movies. The discs were professionally packed with catchy graphics on the cover,” Adriao said. The report said the cargo was declared as mechanical and telecommunication goods and spare parts.

The reports quoted South African police authorities as saying that a suspect in Nigeria had been identified and was being sought, adding that efforts were being made to apprehend others. When Saturday Punch contacted the office of the Director-General of the Nigeria Copyright Commission, Dr Adebambo Adewopo, his personal assistant, Vincent Oyefeso, confirmed the seizure.
_________________
May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5442

Bad Fuel: Oando, Mobil Own Up

Yemie Adeoye
7th March 2008

OANDO Plc and Mobil Oil Nigeria (MON) originally fingered as sources of Premier Motor Spirit (PMS) – petrol – that caused engine damage in vehicles in Lagos area in recent times have finally owned up to dispensing contaminated fuel. Mobil Oil Nigeria (MON), in a statement in Lagos yesterday confirmed receiving complaints from customers that their vehicles developed faults after fill-up at some MON filling stations in the Lagos area.

While Oando plc, another Major marketer and the company fingered by the federal government to have brought in the product has threatened to sue Gunvor Bv of Amsterdam, the Swiss company from whom it purchased the contaminated products into Nigeria.

According to the External Affairs manager of MON Mr Akin Fatunke the company on receipt of these complaints, immediately stopped sales from the filling stations and immediately ordered a thorough investigation into the matter. “We are working with the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and other Major Marketers to identify the root cause of the occurrence,” he said. Oando’s spokesman Mr. Niyi Olowola, also said yesterday that the company is already set to sue Gunvor Bv.

MON statement reads in part: “On 14th February, 2008, Oando delivered to Nigeria 33,000 metric tons of gasoline imported from Gunvor International BV Amsterdam, in accordance to all laid down procedures and regulations for the importation and delivery of petroleum product in Nigeria. At the Nigerian jetty the product was subjected to Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) routine tests in line with industry specifications and was found to meet set and prescribed standard.

It was compared with the certificate of quality issued at load port to ensure that there had been no material change in transit, on confirmation that the product was the same as what was loaded, it was approved for discharge. "However, by the 25th of February, there were reports of consumers’ vehicles performing unsatisfactorily after purchasing the fuel within the Lagos Metropolis.

“We appreciate the fact that this experience has been very unsavoury for the customers and has dampened customer confidence. We aim to not only show that there was no negligence on the part of our company but also that relevant information that would have determined a different course of action was withheld from us."

_________________
May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm