A bill for an Act to introduce measures aimed against the manufacturing, production, possession, and distribution of counterfeit goods in Nigeria passed through second reading at the Senate on Wednesday.
The billl sponsored by Senator Ibikunle Amosun, also provides for a criminal investigation into counterfeiting and seeks to make the prosecution of such crime less cumbersome to provide effective control of counterfeit goods.
Senator Amosun, while presenting the lead debate on the bill, explained that the proposed legislation was imperative as existing legislations have largely been limited, restrictive, and weak in enforcement mechanism.
He listed some of them to include the Trademark Act, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Act, and Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act.
Seconding the bill, Senator Tolu Odebiyi said it will increase the nation’s internal production and create jobs for the people if the amount of counterfeit goods that come into Nigeria is minimised.
“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”, Odebiyi said.
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
The proposed bill seeks to further protect owners of trademarks and copyright against the release of similar (counterfeit) goods into the channels of commerce.