SON and Police Investigate Counterfeit Cables Amid Calls for Stricter Penalties

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigeria Police Force are collaborating on investigations into cable counterfeiting cases. While touring factories in Sagamu, Ogun State, the managing director of Coleman Technical Industries Limited made calls for stiffer penalties for manufacturers and distributors of counterfeit and substandard cables. The company argued that weak enforcement encourages the growth of the illicit trade and that regulators should intensify efforts against counterfeit products.

The criticism focuses on the need for adequate criminal sanctions against offenders, noting that confiscation without prosecution is not an effective deterrent. The company CEO questioned the number of counterfeiters prosecuted by SON, stressing that substandard cables pose risks such as fires and endanger lives.