FG is in Search for Local Manufacturers of Light Bulb
The federal government has embarked on a frantic search for companies willing to manufacture electric bulbs in the country, according to Dr. Joseph Odumodu, director-general of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (Son) ,who also attributed influx of sub-standard bulbs estimated at N500 million annually, to the country, to the absence of such companies.
Odumodu, who spoke in Lagos over the weekend at a meeting with the Electric Bulbs Stakeholders, said the country spends over N1 billion annually on the importation of light bulbs and that more than half of this amount is spent on sub-standard bulbs. He said that it is against this backdrop that the federal government is looking for investors, who can manufacture light bulbs locally.
The director-general of Son ,who traced the fake light bulbs to Asia, said his organisation prefers that bulbs be manufactured locally because it would make it easier for Son to monitor the standard and also the country reduce the influx of fake bulbs to the country.
“The electrical and electronics market in Nigeria has been a source of serious concern to Son due to the high rate of importers of substandard and counterfeited product which must be checked so that Nigerian consumers including you (the importer) will have value for their money, since 70 percent of samples received for laboratory tests daily is electrical/electronic products,” said Odumodu.
He said that the lighting market in Nigeria today is filled with more of substandard products especially lamps of different types adding that he invited stakeholders to them meeting to inform them of the following:
Whereas a normal incandescent lamp expected to have a minimum life of 1000 hours, i.e. 42 days of continuous burning, the laboratory result shows that measured life is average of 200-480 hours. While some go off as soon as it is plugged. That 80 percent of the energy savings lamps has failed life performance test.
The cap of some of the lamps breaks off from the shell after the burn out time, making it difficult to remove such lamp holder (the product failed torsion test). Popular brands such as Tungsram, Pila, Philip, among others that formally have record of conformance to standards have been replaced with counterfeited ones of very low quality.
Odumodu,said most lamps in the country have no information on the manufacturer’s address or country of origin as required. Son has received series of complaints on the menace of substandard bulbs and is determined to ensure that the flooding of the Nigerian market with substandard lamps is checked. Nigerians are loosing a lot of money replacing burnt out lamps too often than necessary.
He said that the management of Son summoned the gathering to serve as an opportunity for round table talks on how to redeem the Electric Light Bulb sector and to warn counterfeiters to desist from such nefarious activities.
“We also want to announce to you the organisation’s resolve to commence dissemination of failed products through the print and electronic media, the information will clearly state the name of importer, address and brand name, with all the attendant penalties,” said.
“Currently there is a new product registration regime in Son and importers are all required to comply, the organisation through this scheme is short-listing importers to enable traceability.
“We have also noticed that most of the addresses are fake and misleading, which in itself is an offence and under the new scheme, verification of addresses is a pre-condition for registration. We are also aware of faking activities going on in this sector, measures are being put in place to combat such faking bulbs and others products in order to protect the genuine importers.
If you have not yet registered your product or registration has expired, do so within the next few days because henceforth import permit is required for the importation of bulbs. Enforcement activities have commenced to mop up all the failed products from the warehouses and markets. In order to safeguard your integrity, you are advised to surrender the substandard bulbs in your possession as offenders shall be prosecuted upon seizure.
“You are all aware of the recent federal government’s directive, withdrawing Son from Sea ports and Land borders, this development has however re-invigorate our task of ridding the Nation of all fake and substandard products. To be fore-warned is to be fore-armed, as No excuse will be entertained”.
Odumodu, who spoke in Lagos over the weekend at a meeting with the Electric Bulbs Stakeholders, said the country spends over N1 billion annually on the importation of light bulbs and that more than half of this amount is spent on sub-standard bulbs. He said that it is against this backdrop that the federal government is looking for investors, who can manufacture light bulbs locally.
The director-general of Son ,who traced the fake light bulbs to Asia, said his organisation prefers that bulbs be manufactured locally because it would make it easier for Son to monitor the standard and also the country reduce the influx of fake bulbs to the country.
“The electrical and electronics market in Nigeria has been a source of serious concern to Son due to the high rate of importers of substandard and counterfeited product which must be checked so that Nigerian consumers including you (the importer) will have value for their money, since 70 percent of samples received for laboratory tests daily is electrical/electronic products,” said Odumodu.
He said that the lighting market in Nigeria today is filled with more of substandard products especially lamps of different types adding that he invited stakeholders to them meeting to inform them of the following:
Whereas a normal incandescent lamp expected to have a minimum life of 1000 hours, i.e. 42 days of continuous burning, the laboratory result shows that measured life is average of 200-480 hours. While some go off as soon as it is plugged. That 80 percent of the energy savings lamps has failed life performance test.
The cap of some of the lamps breaks off from the shell after the burn out time, making it difficult to remove such lamp holder (the product failed torsion test). Popular brands such as Tungsram, Pila, Philip, among others that formally have record of conformance to standards have been replaced with counterfeited ones of very low quality.
Odumodu,said most lamps in the country have no information on the manufacturer’s address or country of origin as required. Son has received series of complaints on the menace of substandard bulbs and is determined to ensure that the flooding of the Nigerian market with substandard lamps is checked. Nigerians are loosing a lot of money replacing burnt out lamps too often than necessary.
He said that the management of Son summoned the gathering to serve as an opportunity for round table talks on how to redeem the Electric Light Bulb sector and to warn counterfeiters to desist from such nefarious activities.
“We also want to announce to you the organisation’s resolve to commence dissemination of failed products through the print and electronic media, the information will clearly state the name of importer, address and brand name, with all the attendant penalties,” said.
“Currently there is a new product registration regime in Son and importers are all required to comply, the organisation through this scheme is short-listing importers to enable traceability.
“We have also noticed that most of the addresses are fake and misleading, which in itself is an offence and under the new scheme, verification of addresses is a pre-condition for registration. We are also aware of faking activities going on in this sector, measures are being put in place to combat such faking bulbs and others products in order to protect the genuine importers.
If you have not yet registered your product or registration has expired, do so within the next few days because henceforth import permit is required for the importation of bulbs. Enforcement activities have commenced to mop up all the failed products from the warehouses and markets. In order to safeguard your integrity, you are advised to surrender the substandard bulbs in your possession as offenders shall be prosecuted upon seizure.
“You are all aware of the recent federal government’s directive, withdrawing Son from Sea ports and Land borders, this development has however re-invigorate our task of ridding the Nation of all fake and substandard products. To be fore-warned is to be fore-armed, as No excuse will be entertained”.
