Coleman Calls for Tougher Enforcement Against Counterfeit Cable Producers

Coleman Technical Industries Limited has urged regulators and lawmakers to strengthen the consequences faced by businesses and individuals involved in producing or distributing counterfeit electrical cables in Nigeria.

The company's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, George Onafowokan, raised the issue after a media tour of Coleman's manufacturing facilities in Sagamu, Ogun State. He argued that removing suspected fake products from the market may have limited impact if enforcement does not also lead to prosecution of those responsible.

Onafowokan directed particular attention to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, saying the regulator should intensify enforcement against substandard products while ensuring that suspected offenders face the appropriate legal process. He alleged that the current approach had not resulted in enough criminal consequences for people involved in cable counterfeiting and questioned whether enforcement activity was sufficiently discouraging the practice.

He also alleged that the standards agency sometimes placed greater emphasis on charging manufacturers for product testing than on coordinating prosecutions with other relevant authorities. Onafowokan pointed to enforcement against counterfeit pharmaceutical products as an example of the stronger deterrence he believes should also be applied to the cable industry.

The Coleman chief said the safety implications extended beyond commercial losses for legitimate manufacturers. According to him, poorly made cables can increase fire risks and endanger consumers. He said some counterfeit products may contain between 30 and 40 per cent less material in length, allowing their producers to reduce manufacturing costs while selling the products at prices close to genuine alternatives.

Onafowokan said Coleman had been working with the Nigeria Police Force at national, zonal and state levels on cases involving suspected cable adulteration. He added that the company had spent money supporting investigations and legal processes, including laboratory examinations of cables suspected to have been tampered with. He said Coleman was awaiting the outcome of a case that, in his assessment, could become the country's first imprisonment specifically linked to cable adulteration.

Coleman Executive Director Michael Onafowokan also called for stronger action from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria. He said the regulator has an important role in protecting an environment where manufacturers that meet quality requirements can operate, while action is taken against counterfeiters. He further said the problem was no longer limited to imported substandard cables, alleging that counterfeit production was increasingly occurring within Nigeria.

The company's Chief Operating Officer, Ilori Sanusi, called on the Federal Government and National Assembly to review the legal framework governing such offences. He said penalties should reflect the seriousness of counterfeiting and be strong enough to discourage repeat violations.

Beyond enforcement, George Onafowokan also appealed for greater support for Nigerian manufacturers under the Nigeria First policy. He said Coleman had benefited from expanding local-content opportunities in sectors including oil and gas and telecommunications.