Sir: Patronage of fairly used products of various descriptions have dominated the retail section of the Nigerian market for a while now. The products range from automobiles to cosmetics, electrical and electronic products and even toys. In all parts of the country, there are hardly new materials for sale. In cases where they are available, some traders will advertise the tokunbo, as fairly used products are called, as better and more durable.
This is the state of the Nigerian state today. Up to the 1980s when Nigerians patronized mainly the Peugeot and Volkswagen cars, no one had time for any fairly used. It was a reflection of the state of the economy and the mindset of Nigerians. How things have since changed. The Standards Organisation of Nigeria will always explain that Made in Nigeria goods are better than many of these fairly used, but Nigerians appear to have been too far gone to listen to the words of advice.
Let me start with set of the ones who buy used baby pampers and adult under wears for male and lingerie for female also known as okrika or ‘first grade’ says it last longer than the new ones and its even economical not thinking of the exposed disease like cancer of the skin and of the breast and other infections the new user may incur in may cause due to the use and state of the previous users, I am most concerns about the safety implications of these imported goods. In a way, most of these materials are not manufactured for the tropics. They therefore constitute nuisance. Fire outbreaks have sometimes been traced to substandard imported wire and cable products.
Even when account is taken of the discounted price that is the main attraction, this is a wrong choice in the long run. The state of the materials cannot be easily ascertained. It is obvious that if the products were performing optimally, the original owners would not have discarded or sold them off. Environmentalists have even contended that use of discarded refrigerators and air conditioners are harmful to the global fight against global warming. Nigeria has become a dumping ground for products and goods that are no longer tolerated in other countries, to the detriment of the health our citizens.
Many mobile phones, gadgets and home appliances we buy have either expired range or are faulty, while some were stolen, the product may be damaged to some extent that when using, it may explode and lead to loss of the product or even affect the users in some cases, due to our bad electricity voltage supply.
Lastly I want to call the attention of the higher authority to the importation of foods and drinks to the country, we know there is corruption at some of the departments and agencies that should ensure that the products coming in are not expired or substandard , Some of the products would have been affected due to heat and days spent at the sea port before clearing.
Government should encourage those multinationals in United States, Europe and Asia shipping the products in to establish factories in Nigeria. This is the antidote.
- Joseph Oloyede writes from Lagos.
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