The Nation Newspaper

Tag: counterfeit

  • Shopper protection: Lagos, HP shut int’l counterfeit operation

    The Lagos State government and a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM), HP, have collaborated to protect shoppers from the menace of counterfeiters.

    Lagos State Police Command, under Commissioner of Police I.O Edgal and HP officials swooped on  a large-scale international counterfeiting operation in the state. As part of the raid, there were several seizures in the Lagos and and also Abuja, in shops, warehouses and at manufacturing sites. The Nigerian officials were seized 142,000 illegal items, which were primarily components for manufacturing counterfeit toner and ink cartridges.

    Counterfeiting is a crime. For users, such illegal imitations can cause a multitude of problems that may lead to performance and reliability issues. Should your printer breakdown because of using counterfeit printer ink or toner, you could also have issues with your manufacturer’s warranty becoming not applicable.

    In contrast, original HP products are designed to meet HP’s strict quality and reliability standards, based on a long history of inventing and testing. Original HP LaserJet and HP inkjet cartridges, unlike counterfeits, benefit from superior performance and consistent results.

    Country Supplies Business Manager, Nigeria and Ghana, Olatunji  Itiola, said: “HP is thrilled to continue its success working with the Nigerian government and authorities, to close down these illegal counterfeit operations. We are proud that the collaboration is working to reduce counterfeiting operations in the region, and bring the associated criminals to justice. With our unwavering efforts and commitment to end these counterfeit operations with local officials, we continue to focus on the safety of our customers through our anti-counterfeiting and fraud programme.”

    Across EMEA over the last five years, approximately 12 million counterfeits and components have been seized by local authorities, supported by HP. HP has conducted over 4,500 audits and inspections (CPPAs and CDIs) of partners’ stocks or suspicious deliveries for customers.

    Through HP’s Anti-Counterfeiting and Fraud (ACF) Programme, the company actively educates its customers and partners to be vigilant against fake printing supplies. It also cooperates closely with local and global law enforcement authorities to detect and dismantle illegal operations that produce counterfeit HP printing components.

  • ‘Over 50% of imported goods is counterfeit’

    Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Director-General, Mr. Osita Aboloma has lamented the large presence of fake, counterfeit and sub-standard goods in the country. He put the figure at about 50 per cent.

    He said his agency is equipped more than ever to fight the menace especially with the implementation of SON ACT 14, 2015, which empowers the agency to prosecute any offender.

    Aboloma, who spoke to The Nation in his office in Lagos, said the agency is in the 36 States of the Federation including Abuja.

    He said they have over 41 life threatening items that are in the prohibition list with the mandate to seize them where ever they are found within 24 hours.

    While condemning the unscrupulous business men who import counterfeit goods, he explained that SON only destroys those goods as a last result when they cannot be corrected.

    Abaloma explained that if the contravention has to do with only packaging or minor correction they assist the importer or manufacturer to make the necessary adjustment.

    He said SON is determined to encourage the growth of Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and National Association of Small Scale Industries (NASSI) especially those who are not in the Mandatory Assessment Programme (MANCAP) yet to bring their product up to the Nigeria Industrial Standard (NIS).

    According to him, a programme tailored towards their size of business is in place where they are given reasonable rates to enable them go through the process of standardization of their products while they are also granted waivers in vehicle importation to mechanise their production processes.

    Abaloma said: “SON market surveillance covers the 36 states of the federation; the idea is to grow market confidence on imported and locally manufactured goods by making them go either through the SON Mandatory Assessment Programme (SONCAP) for imported products and MANCAP for locally manufactured products.

    “We want economic development and growth through adherence to standardization because standardization means order besides production cost savings”.

  • Counterfeit products: Count us out, says China

    The Chinese Government has debunked claims by some Nigerian businessmen that it dumps fake and substandard goods in their market.

    Rather, the Asian citizens accused Nigerian business men of insisting that quality specification be reduced to reduce cost when they want to import products from them.

    The Organising Committee of China International Auto Products EXPO (CIAPE) Vice Chairman, Mrs. Zhang Yazhu, who stated this, urged the Federal Government to put policies in place to bar importers from asking for and importing low quality goods.

    He spoke in Lagos at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) and Nigeria- China Auto Parts Economic & Trade Seminar & Business Matchmaking Meeting.

    She expressed regrets over the dubiousness of a majority of importers who she accused of rubbishing the name of her country for business.

    She said when the goods were imported what the public would know is that they were worthless.

    According to Yazhu, Chinese businessmen love money just like their Nigerian counterparts and may be lured into making quick money due to the pressure of quick gain.

    She, however, said Chinese products were sold all over the world without complaints of sub- standardisation.

    She, therefore, urged policy makers to embark on advocacy that would encourage importers to act with good conscience as far as the lives of their citizenry were concerned.

    She said: “We have big and reliable manufacturers in China recognised by our home government, but if a Nigerian importer decides to buy from the streets, the Government of China will not be held responsible for buying poor quality goods.

    Yazhu said the essence of the expo was to showcase reliable manufacturers from China. “My argument and sincere advice is that Nigerians should stop asking our manufacturers for lower quality goods.

    “The Chinese auto parts market is growing in leaps and bounds and we have even gone past that to engage in energy cars. As a country with a huge population, we are happy doing business with Nigeria but their business men must play by the rules,” she said.

    Advisory Partner & Chief Economist, PriceWaterHouseCoopers (PWC), Dr. Andrew S. Nevin, said Nigeria could be a top car manufacturer if the right policy was in place. He regretted that over 86 per cent of cars sold last year in Nigeria were second hand.

    Nevin urged that the gap between cars made outside Nigeria and those  inside it be bridged, noting that it is the only way the economy would grow. He regretted that South Africa with smaller population has a thriving car industry unlike in Nigeria where used cars are the order of the day.

    On why the auto sector is not developed, Nevin attributed it to lack of an effective auto finance system. He regretted that 87 per cent of cars sold locally were sold in cash, while only a miserly 17 per cent of the cars are financed, especially for those who work in blue chip companies.

    While stressing that no economy could grow without basic structures in place, Nevin said: “There is the need to check the uncontrolled dumping of Tokunbo cars in the country in addition to the importers paying the right duties for imported cars.

    “The government should also work on the structuring of auto parts to ensure strategic distribution and marketing that will ensure that only genuine products are sold unlike the current situation where counterfeit products are passed as genuine parts.”

    Nevin said Nigeria could become a car hub where various brands of cars were manufactured in five years, if the right policies were in place and implemented.

    A Chevrolet brand importer, Mr. Gabrial Omowunmi, narrated his experience on his first visit to China. He said he was apprehensive as he thought every Chinese product was fake. He, however, said that to his dismay, his Chinese partners complained that it is only Nigerians and Angolans that insisted on their producing fake and substandard products.

    Omowunmi advised that stricter measures be put in place for imported products to ensure that quality goods are imported, especially now that there is recession.

    Earlier, LCCI President Mrs. Nike Akande said the auto and allied products sector was crucial to economic growth.

    She observed that over 90 per cent of the haulage of goods and the movement of persons were done through road transportation. She, therefore, canvassed the revitalisation of the railways.

  • Five ways to avoid counterfeit car parts

    Five ways to avoid counterfeit car parts

    The incidence of numerous counterfeit car parts flooding the market has become a serious problem in recent years. Counterfeit or imitation car parts typically aren’t very easy to spot because counterfeit part makers work long and hard to fool consumers. This makes it difficult to avoid them. However, there are a couple of things you can keep in mind to help you, at least to a reasonable extent, identify these fake car parts. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares 5 of these things to help you identify and avoid counterfeit car parts.

    Extremely Large Difference in Prices

    Sometimes the cheapest deal isn’t always the best, especially when buying car parts. If you do your research and when in the market for parts you are given a price that is outrageously low, the car part is most likely fake. You should be suspicious.

    Buy Your Parts from Authorized Dealers and Retailers

    This might be a more expensive option but in the long run, it’s worth it. Most of us already know this but we still manage the cheap fake parts because they get our cars moving. However, though these fake parts temporarily fix the problem, they also cause bigger problems in the meantime. These fake parts are not built to your car’s specification, so they tend to lead to mechanical problems, system breakdowns and safety problems. Not to mention the fact that you still end up spending a fortune on them, because they don’t last long and need to be constantly replaced.  It’s better to set your car aside while you save up for the original part or rework or fix the faulty part (if it can be fixed) rather than opting for cheap fake parts. However, avoid these ‘salvage parts’ for risky parts like distributor, alternator or brakes.

    Check for Distinct Marks

    In an attempt to check the activities of counterfeit part producers, some brands have now started affixing distinct marks on their car parts. This mark will assist you in distinguishing genuine products from counterfeit products. You can search online for information on these distinct marks or ask authorized dealers and retailers about it.

    Inspect the Packaging

    If the packaging appears flimsy and of a low quality, if it lacks a brand name or logo, has graphics or a name similar to but not the exact name of the original manufacturers you’re used to seeing, it’s most likely fake. Counterfeiters often try as much as possible to use the colours, artwork and type fonts similar to the original packing, but there would always be slight variations to give them away once they are properly inspected.

    Get a Trustworthy Mechanic

    Most times we tend not to buy these parts ourselves. Our mechanics handle the whole thing, we only give them money. Typically, it’s advisable that you are as involved as possible in the servicing or repair process of your car and if possible go along with these mechanics to purchase the parts so you can monitor their activities. However, this is not always possible, so you need to ask around, search diligently and find a mechanic you can trust, not a mechanic that will charge you for the price of the original part and then buy the fake part and pocket the leftover cash. Get a trustworthy mechanic who knows what he’s doing and is unlikely to extort you with fake parts.

     

  • Council collaborates to stop counterfeit drugs

    Council collaborates to stop counterfeit drugs

    Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) is collaborating with key players in the medicine industry to regulate activities of patent medicine vendors.

    Besides, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Incorporated Trustees of National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) on patent medicine vendors regulation.

    The MoU, which was signed by representatives of both parties, stated that activities of the medicine vendor should be a collective one.

    “Pursuant to the mandate of PCN, NAPPMED and its associate, LSMDA shall partner with PCN to carry out the regulation of Patent Medicine Vendors in Nigeria,” it said.The agreement would also involve the Lagos State Medicine Dealers Association (LSMDA), which was identified as a key stakeholder in Lagos.PCN said it has agreed to liaise with other stakeholders and relevant government agencies to review from time to time, the approved drug list for PMVs in line with the national drug policy.“The prevention of drug hawking falls under the mandate of NAFDAC, however, the proliferation of drug hawkers in Nigeria is a major concern and will be presented by PCN representative at the meeting of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Food,” it said.The PCN said on the ongoing sensitization on the modalities for implementing the Mega Drug Distribution Centers (MDDC) NAPPMED is urged to encourage its members that meet requirements to establish MDDCs before the deadline of July.It is understood by parties that the use of Policemen by PCN inspectors is desirable as it ensures safety of the inspectors and averts possible breakdown of law and order during inspection exercises and for no other purposes.To render the collaboration with the PCN effective, NAPPMED and LSMDA have undertaken to mend fences and operate with singularity of purpose and shall in future discourse present issues as a united body.Parties are of the understanding that the guidelines on Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors License (PPMVL) which provides that ownership of Patent Medicine Shops should be open to all Nigerians who have met the requirements should be respected in order not to infringe on the rights of citizens.

     

  • D’Banj supports war against counterfeit drugs

    D’Banj supports war against counterfeit drugs

    Award-winning musician, Mr Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’Banj, stormed the new ultra modern regional administrative headquarters and laboratories of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Lagos last week to lend support to the agency’s renowned public enlightenment campaign against counterfeit drugs and other substandard regulated products in the country.

    D’banj who was conducted round NAFDAC’s laboratories at Oshodi and Yaba strongly commended the agency for its relentless fight against counterfeit drugs and efforts to save the lives of millions of Nigerians.

    He explained that his tour of NAFDAC laboratories and the illuminating explanations offered by the regulatory officers on duty should be widely disseminated to millions of vibrant Nigerian youths who are ignorant about public health issues and regulatory activities.

    His words: “I am very impressed and inspired with what I have seen at NAFDAC laboratories and other offices. Before now, I found it difficult to distinguish a genuine drug from the counterfeit. We hear a lot of news about fake drugs. From what I have seen today, I am well informed. On behalf of the Nigerian youths, I just have to commend NAFDAC for their good works.”

    D’banj who was mobbed by enthusiastic fans praised the Director General of NAFDAC for taking the agency to greater heights as one of the top 20 medicines regulatory authorities in the world.

    Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, who was highly elated, said D’banj’s visit was a morale booster and source of encouragement for the NAFDAC regulatory workers saddled with the sacred mandate of safeguarding public health.

    Dr. Orhii thanked the celebrated musician for his show of solidarity and readiness to strengthen NAFDAC’s public enlightenment campaign through his musical platform.

  • NAFDAC nabs counterfeit drug merchants, others

    NAFDAC nabs counterfeit drug merchants, others

    The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arrested five persons in connection with forgery, and manufacturing of substandard and counterfeit drugs as the agency intensifies its fight against substandard and counterfeit drugs and food products.

    The various people arrested are Mr. Victor Okeke for forgery of NAFDAC’s documents, Mr. Tochukwu Michael Ozala, Mr. Ifeanyi  Okoro, Mr. Peter Nwannwbuife and Mr. Nnaka Christian for counterfeiting Codrux Codeine Cough syrup and Coflin cough syrup in Onitsha, Anambra State.

    Speaking at a press briefing last week at the NAFDAC office, Oshodi, Lagos, to intimate the press of the agency’s recent activities, the Director General, Dr. Paul Orhii, disclosed that the agency also recently intercepted fake packaging materials for drug with fake Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) code and NAFDAC registration number at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    “The labelled packaging materials has fake MAS code, date markings, batch numbers and NRN already inscribed on it,” noted the Director General, adding that preliminary investigations revealed that the packaging materials originated from India and may have been imported with intent to fake the original brand.

    Meanwhile, the market authorisation holder of the original brand, Fidson Healthcare Plc, has denied knowledge of such import. The consignment is estimated to have over 5,000 pieces of secondary packaging and over 1,000 pieces of the MAS code labels.

    The federal government regulatory body also discovered three ware houses where counterfeit medicines are stored by a major counterfeiter of medicines. His identity and address cannot be revealed now in order not to impede investigations.

    Explaining, Dr. Paul Orhii said that at the time NAFDAC staff stormed the three warehouses, about 15 types of popular drugs and medicine packaging materials were found. Such drugs include Tarivid 200mg tablet, Augmentin 625mg tablet, Proviron tablets, Novasc tablets, Glucophage 500mg tablets, Cotecxin tablets, Regroton tablets, Clomid tablets, Loratyn-10 tablets, Cytotec-200mg tablets and Halfan tablets.

    Other drugs also discovered in the warehouses include Lexotan tablets, Tegretol tablets, Cataflam tablets, Ciprotab tablets and unlabelled injection. The packaging materials include Ampiclox, Taravid, Augmentine, Vega, Aldomet, and GSK Hologram for Loparex.

    The DG regretted that date and batch coding machines used in the validation of expired medicines were among the things discovered in the warehouses.

    Meanwhile, Mr. Victor Chinonyelum Okeke was apprehended for forgery of NAFDAC import control stamp used for the clearing of consignments imported into the country.

    Dr. Orhii stated that in this case, Victor Okeke, forged stamps for Option Freight international Ltd, a clearing company to facilitate the clearance of 1X20ft and 1X40ft containers of herbal drugs and herbal tea imported by Tianshi Health Products Company Ltd.

  • How to avoid counterfeit products in the New Year

    How to avoid counterfeit products in the New Year

    As the curtains finally fell on 2014, there is no doubt that there is a rise in the influx of counterfeit products in the country. To quote Dr. Joseph Odumodu, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Director General, “80% of electronic products in Lagos are fake while 40% of other commodities in Nigerian market are counterfeit.” People fall victims to fake products every day. If you are in this country and have not experienced it, then you are a rare specie.

    Just recently, on the 29th of December, 2014, I went to a corner shop near my house and purchased the popular Always pad at the price of N220.00. Being a product I am used to, when the seller handed it to me, I observed immediately that it weighed very little which prompted me to have a second look at it. I saw the manufacturer’s name, ‘Procter & Gamble’ and walked out of the store still brooding on how light the product had become.

    However, when I tore the blue nylon wrapping and brought out the single product, again I was surprised how thin and light it was. The wrapping was in a light pink cellophane instead of the purplish pink coloured cellophane the original product comes in.  I tore the pink wrapping and noticed that the content was just plain soft thin rubber.

    So angry, I wondered if there is anything in this country that does not have a counterfeit. I went back to a bigger shop and asked for the same product. Just seeing that one, I knew it was the original. It looked bigger and holding it, it weighed heavier. At a closer look, there was a lot of difference between the fake one and the original. Though the two had the same manufacturer’s address and name, the packaging and the prints on the fake one looked quite inferior.

    The contents of the original one also were full unlike the fake one. Meanwhile, I paid less for the original one. While I paid N220 for the counterfeit, I paid N190 for the original one.

    Confirming the rise in the importation and local production of counterfeit and substandard products in Nigeria, the National Co-ordinator, Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Initiative [ACAPI], Mr. Hanson Maduagwu, said that the degree has grown tremendously such that even brand owners are finding it difficult to distinguish between their original brand products and the fakes.

    “In 2015, it will be harder for consumers to tell the difference between the original brand products and their fakes except the issue of consumer education even at the grassroots is given more attention,” he noted

    Throwing more light on the issue, Hanson Maduagwu said that the two major concerns will come from imported and locally manufactured products.

    “Due to the high dollar exchange rate, most importers of finished goods would begin to order lower quality goods so as to hedge against the high dollar exchange rate,” he said.

    Subsequently for local manufacturers, he added: “the higher cost of imported raw materials will induce the production of more substandard products so as not to increase prices or just slightly.”

    Basically, he stressed, “we will see the influx of cheap counterfeits as well as substandard locally made products.”

    Warning consumers, Maduagwu said consumers should pay particular attention when buying automobile spare parts, accessories, electronic and electrical accessories.

    Also, he advised consumers to be mindful when purchasing home appliances, building materials, foreign and local cash/financial instruments, among other things.

    According to Dr. Ndukaeze Nwabueze of the Department of Sociology University of Lagos, “counterfeit products are products which the constituents, weight, relevant measures, characteristics, qualities fall below national and international standards. So because of these short comings, their effectiveness, potency or fitness for purpose is criminally undermined and deliberately compromised.”

    There is virtually no popular product that is not faked. Nobody wants to fake a product which has no market. You want a product which you can sell quickly.

    A wide range of products involved are intellectual and creative works, processed and manufactured goods, drugs, equipments, chemicals, cell phones and accessories, computer software, perfumes, etcetera.

    If it is a popular product, it is bound to have counterfeit ones. Mrs. Aina Adesina said she went to the Computer Village, Ikeja, recently to buy HP laptop. The seller being an old friend of hers advised her in confidence to go for another brand especially a less popular one as the adulterated HP laptop and accessories had infiltrated the market.

    As she insisted on an HP product, the seller directed her to HP major offices, insisting that the only way she can buy original HP products in the Computer Village was buying the second hand ones imported from the UK or US.

    The Anti-piracy Manager, Microsoft Nig., Temofe Ugbona, said quite a number of resellers abound in the country that are in possession of high quality counterfeit software that is packaged like genuine software, “a trend resulting in many consumers who believe they are purchasing software from a reliable source, unknowingly becoming victims of software piracy.”

    While reiterating the need to play it safe, Microsoft urges consumers to ask questions, investigate the packaging, watch out for ‘too good-to-be-true’ prices and demand genuine software to ensure what is paid for and to protect families and businesses from the threat of malware associated with pirated or counterfeit software.

    Just as piracy has eaten deep into the fabric of Nigeria’s entertainment industry, Vitafoam, one of Nigeria’s oldest foam manufacturing companies in Nigeria, has said that counterfeiting and imitation of its products are the major challenges facing the organisation and the industry at large.

    The company said the imitation of its products is a major obstacle, especially in the north and that complaints keep coming in.

    NAFDAC has severally intercepted packaging materials imported with the intention of faking drugs, especially codeine syrup. In one interception recently at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, 20,000 units of packaging for codeine syrup worth over N10million were seized.

    The Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) has called for a proper regulation and monitoring of pharmaceutical industry and for stricter laws and policies to be enacted with full implementation and enforcement in order to stem out the menace of drug counterfeiting in the country.

    A man in possession of 10,000 labels of assorted drinks was also recently arrested in Enugu by officials of NAFDAC, while officials of the Lagos State Task force sealed off 40 illegal drug stores in Alapere, Magodo, Ikosi-Isheri environs in Kosofe.

    What to do.

    While it is virtually impossible to ensure that all of the products you buy are the genuine ones, a few easy steps can help you reduce the chances of being duped.

    *Learn to spot a fake. Do not rely on retailers or the government to protect you from counterfeit products as the people and the products involved are so numerous. If the deal is too-good-to-be-true, the product is probably a fake.

    *Shop at reputable retailers. Consumer goods do make their way in to the shelves of even the largest most established stores but less reputable retailers are far more likely to sell counterfeit products.

    *Do not patronise traders selling along the high ways as they have no permanent addresses. If you are duped, you cannot trace them.

    *Be particularly careful when buying online. Online auction sites are rife with counterfeits and since you cannot inspect the goods first, it is hard to tell what you are buying.

    *While you shop around, research the price of the item you want at different stores. A deal that is too good-to-be-true, almost always is.

    *Quality of the counterfeit item. Even if the item looks genuine on the surface, a close look at the details will tell you if the item is of a low quality.

    Lastly, report suspected counterfeits. If you see or have purchased a product you think may be fake, contact the authorities so they can investigate. If you do not know where to go, contact Consumer Watch through the email address on top.

    As we thank God for keeping us through last year and bringing us into another wonderful year, I pray you will enjoy a prosperous and fruitful year. Happy New Year.

  • Rain of counterfeit naira

    Rain of counterfeit naira

    Concerned over the spate of counterfeiting of the nation’s legal tender, the naira,  the apex bank has set machinery in motion to nip the trend in the bud, reports Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

    AT the twilight of Professor Chukwuma Soludo’s tenure as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, the news media was abuzz with report that the naira was being faked by a company in Australia, of course, by some unscrupulous businessmen.

    And one of the reasons cited by analysts as probable cause of that dastardly act was the planned redenomination of the naira by the CBN at the time.

    The fire this time

    This time, however, the apex bank has raised the alert again as it envisages that with the floundering value of the country’s legal tender, there could be attempts by fraudsters to print fake notes in order to cash in on the prevailing credit crunch in the system.

    Founded fears

    Apparently worried over what might become of the naira, and by implication, the economy in general, the CBN had last Wednesday warned against the counterfeiting of the nation’s currency stating that the bank would henceforth have zero tolerance for the vice.

    The CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said this while declaring open the maiden temporary exhibitions of the Currency Museum on ‘Counterfeit Money: Who Pays?’ and ‘Non-Interest Banking in Nigeria.’

    A statement by the apex bank said the development was part of the bank’s resolve to sustain stakeholders’ confidence in the country’s currency notes.

    He said the bank had commenced the education of the Nigerian public on the incorporated security features of the naira.

    Emefiele, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Governor in charge of the Operations Directorate, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, noted that educating the public would enable them to identify counterfeited notes should they encounter such.

    “The CBN remains committed to safeguarding the value of the naira by ensuring that banknotes are not susceptible to counterfeiting,” he said.

    The Director, Currency Operations Department of the CBN, Mr. Olufemi Fabamwo, in the statement, observed that technological advancement posed a serious threat to national currencies to be counterfeited.

    Nevertheless he said the apex bank was alive to its role of protecting the country’s legal tender from counterfeiting by putting in place appropriate policies relating to preventing and minimizing currency counterfeiting as well as providing the public with basis for easy identification of fake notes.

    These features and more are all described in the Currency Management section of the bank’s website.

    Each naira note has its own special print features that deter counterfeiters from creating one. These features range from those we can see with our eyes, feel with your hands, and those that reflect or illuminate under varying light conditions.

    As to how to identify the new currency notes, the bank stated that In the watermark, the eagle is replaced with CBN logo and letters “CBN” in a vertical format which can be seen more clearly when the notes are held up against light.

    Besides, on the N20 note, there is an oval-shaped, green coloured area in the lower part of the window. When the note is tilted, the colour changes from green to gold.

     The bank further suggests that it’s a good idea to check your notes whenever exchanging them with someone.

    “It’s especially important to be careful if you are in poor light or cannot see the notes clearly. When checking naira notes, don’t rely on just one feature but check a few of the ones described in the “Currency Management” part of this website. Feel the note in your hands and look at it closely. If you have any doubts, compare it to one that you know is genuine.

    Security features of currency notes

    The naira notes are protected by a number of security features to enable the recognition of genuine notes. The distinguishing features which can immediately be recognised by touch and visibility are raised print, the security thread and the watermark. Other areas such as the portrait, lettering and the denominational numerals on the front and the back are embossed. The raised print provides the facility, while the security thread, which ordinarily, looks broken but is not when held against the light, has “CBN” in small lettering printed on both sides of the notes.

    The naira notes are also protected against photocopying. There are features, which are visible under ultraviolet light; for example, the serial number on each note is black, but turns green under ultraviolet light.

    The currency notes issued in Nigeria are in: N5, N10, N20, N50, N100, N200, N500 and N1000 denominations and they are all of the same size, 151 x 78 mm. The paper used is a special paper with specific constituents which are unique to bank notes. The manufacturing process and the materials which are used provide the currency with the unique qualities, necessary to give the notes a long span of circulation. At the same time, these special features give a distinctive appearance and feel which is meant to protect it from imitation.

    Modus operandi of currency production

    Naira notes and coins are printed and minted by the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPM) Plc and other overseas printing/minting companies and issued by the CBN.

    At the currency printing works of the NSPM Plc, quality is meticulously controlled throughout every process of currency production. This guarantees that every note issued meets the required standard. The CBN maintains an office called Mint Inspectorate in the premises of the NSPM Plc to maintain security and quality of naira notes and coins.

    Currency is issued to deposit money banks through the branches of the CBN, and old notes retrieved through the same channel. Currency deposited in the CBN by the banks are processed and sorted to fit and unfit notes in line with the clean note policy. The clean notes are re-issued while the dirty notes are destroyed.

    Way forward

    The erstwhile CBN governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had last year suggested redesigning of the currency as solution to the rising incidences of fake naira notes in the country.

    The CBN governor spoke when he honoured the invitation of Sanusi stated that the global practice was for countries to redesign their notes after a few years in order to beat counterfeiters.

    “One of the reasons we wanted to have a restructuring of the redesign of the currency a few months ago was because, as explained, many of our notes have been in existence for upward of eight or even 10 years,” he said.

    “Now, the best practice is that within a period of five to eight years, you redesign the currency, because after that period, counterfeiters tend to catch up.”

    He, however, stressed that counterfeiting was still low per one million notes in the country.

    “Even at that, Nigerian notes, in terms of what we see as counterfeit and processing, the percentage is very low. We had about 3.9 pieces per one million notes in 2007; six pieces in 2008; 8.4 pieces in 2009; 7.4 pieces in 2010; 5.4 pieces in 2011; and 8.4 pieces in 2012 of the notes processed were counterfeit,” Sanusi explained.

    A divergent view

    In the view of Mr. Matthews Akanmu, a public affairs analyst, the greatest problem of the currency is counterfeiting.

    Pressed further, Akanmu said, advancement in printing technology like photocopiers and image scanners have increased the incidence of counterfeit notes, otherwise referred to as funny money or superdollars.

    Giving further insight, he said, such money is printed by criminals, of course, without the legal sanctions of the state.

    “It is usually spent using large denomination (of say N1,000) to buy goods of little value (say N50) in order to obtain high change (say N950) of genuine money. The idea is to use fake money to harvest genuine money that is in circulation.” Counterfeiting, he maintained, undermines the credibility of a currency just as it reduces the value of real money as well as causes inflation by causing too much money to be in circulation thus decreasing the acceptability of money and causing losses of money to those who receive it.

    In addition, the instability of the naira may affect its economic importance as staple hard currency of the West African region.

    Features of genuine naira notes

    • Genuine notes have distinguishing features recognised by touch and visibility
    • Raised print, security thread and watermark.
    • Portrait, lettering and denominational numerals on the front and the back are embossed.
    • The raised print provides the facility, while the security thread, which ordinarily, looks broken but is not when held against the light, has “CBN” in small lettering printed on both sides of the notes.
    • The notes are also protected against photocopying. There are features, which are visible under ultraviolet light; for example, the serial number on each note is black, but turns green under ultraviolet light.
    • The paper used is a special paper with specific constituents which are unique to bank notes.
    • The manufacturing process and the materials which are used provide the currency with the unique qualities, necessary to give the notes a long span of circulation.
    SOURCE: CBN

  • Counterfeit as toast of the town

    A few years ago, Maureen was faced with a hard choice. Two gentlemen had asked for her hand in marriage and she had to make a selection. It wasn’t really an easy task but the vain part of her heart took over. One was very handsome while the other wasn’t so good looking at all. At a glance, Henry the handsome guy who was also the toast of the town should come uppermost on the emotional scale. Deep down, she had her reservations about this guy.

    Reason: “His heart was not as handsome as he looked. Even though he was really nice to her at that point, she observed from his interactions with others that he was shrewd and callous. On the other hand, Remi was a kind heart, very generous and had a wonderful personal relationship with almost everyone around him.”

    Then another voice painted images of a handsome husband on the wedding day and a good looking man by her side. Shouldn’t this be what she should aspire for?

    Is it better to wake up in the arms of Mr. handsome every day of her married life? Well, she voted emotionally for the handsome dude and a few months after they tied the knot.

    Now, it is barely a year and the emotional signs are not too good. Mr. handsome simply grew from bad to worse without any apologies. The writing on her emotional wall brings tears and somehow she wished she could change the hands of time as well as cancel this emotional arrangement that has become a torture. Too late, our dear friend is stuck and it feels worse stepping out of this incompatible circle.

    It is inevitable that in every relationship, there are going to be differences, and everyone has days when their emotions can get the better of them.

    The problem is not that we have differences in our relationship, the problem lies in the way we handle those differences. When our ego gets in the way, we can easily say or do things that threaten the peace of our relationship and increase the level of relationship stress.

    Instead of putting the peace of your relationship on the line when there’s a problem, it is better to develop the life skills needed to resolve problems with consideration, awareness and respect.

    One basic truth for lovebirds is that we need to chose wisely and not get carried away by the outward things that glitter. We must also resist the temptation to misrepresent ourselves when making friends, just to impress the other person. The objective of making friends is to get to know the other person, not to mislead them into liking you. Are friendships that aren’t based on honesty really worth having? If the other party cannot accept honest communication, then they are not much of a friend!

    Friendship should never require that you both agree on everything. So, when making friends, don’t be afraid to have your own views and opinions. Any friend worth having will respect you for being honest about how you feel, and what you like and don’t like. Of course, you need to be tactful and willing to respect their views and opinions also.

    Some friendships last a lifetime, some only for a little while. Some friendships are very close and personal; others are limited in their scope. People and situations change, that’s just how life works. Accepting these realities will put you at ease when making friends because you won’t form unrealistic expectations.

    Regardless of whether you have lots of really close friends, or just a few, the important thing is to value these special relationships.  Always be grateful for the special connection you’ve made with these special friends, and be willing to work at keeping the friendship strong, because a true friendship can bring so much value into the life of both people.

    Stress has an insidious way of undermining every aspect of our health and happiness. Nowhere is this more obvious then in our closest and most valued relationships. Have the anxieties and pressures of daily life or a constricting economy begun to seep into your home life?

    When we are feeling the effects of stress, we need to feel that our home is a safe haven where we can find relief and comfort. A happy relationship can make all the difference during challenging times. Sadly, more and more couples are experiencing the divisive influence of outside stress in their relationship with their mate.

    Are there steps we can take to protect the happiness of our relationship during times of stress? When the pressure rises, is there some way for couples to actually draw closer rather than allowing their relationship to be torn apart?

    Handled correctly, challenging experiences can actually bring couples closer together. This is not to say that they will be immune to the stress. What it means is that working together and facing their challenges as a unified partnership can deepen their bond and add new depth to their relationship.