Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Coleman Technical Industries Limited has called for tougher penalties, including imprisonment, for manufacturers and distributors of counterfeit and substandard electrical cables, warning that weak enforcement could allow the illicit trade to continue while exposing consumers to serious safety risks.
The company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, George Onafowokan, made the call during a media tour of Coleman’s factories in Sagamu, Ogun State, where he urged the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and other enforcement agencies to strengthen prosecution of those involved in cable counterfeiting.
Onafowokan argued that simply confiscating and destroying fake cables would not be enough to deter offenders if those responsible for producing and distributing them do not face meaningful criminal sanctions.
Coleman challenges enforcement of counterfeit cable laws
According to reports from the media tour, Onafowokan questioned how many manufacturers and distributors of counterfeit cables had successfully been prosecuted and convicted.
He said enforcement should go beyond removing fake products from the market and focus on identifying and prosecuting the individuals and businesses behind their production and distribution.
“If there is no consequence, all you’ve done is just remove a little off my shelf. I’ll buy another one because you did not tell me I’ve become a criminal for doing it,” Onafowokan said.
The Coleman chief executive also alleged that SON sometimes places greater emphasis on charging manufacturers for product testing than on working with law-enforcement agencies to prosecute counterfeiters.
He called for stronger collaboration between regulatory bodies, the police, lawmakers and other relevant agencies.
Coleman also cited the enforcement approach of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) against counterfeit pharmaceutical products as an example of the level of urgency he believes should be applied to electrical cables.
SON already has powers to seize and prosecute offenders
SON’s official mandate includes monitoring locally manufactured and imported products for compliance with Nigerian Industrial Standards. Its Compliance Directorate is responsible for market surveillance, investigation, raids on confirmed fake or substandard products, seizure and destruction of offending goods, as well as prosecution of fraudulent importers.
SON has also previously carried out enforcement operations involving counterfeit electrical cables.
In June 2024, the organisation said it had confiscated fake electrical cables and wires valued at more than ₦30 million during enforcement operations in Ekiti State. SON said the products were removed from circulation because of the risks they posed to consumers and noted that the agency would continue prosecuting dealers involved in distributing substandard electrical materials.
The regulator classifies electric cables among products that can endanger human life when they are not of acceptable quality.
SON’s product-certification framework also includes product registration and authentication measures designed to improve traceability and help consumers verify the genuineness of regulated products.
These existing mechanisms mean the central issue raised by Coleman is not simply whether regulatory powers exist, but how effectively those powers are being used to identify, prosecute and deter counterfeiters.
Why counterfeit electrical cables are a safety concern
The debate has implications beyond competition between manufacturers.
Substandard electrical cables can create serious risks in homes, commercial buildings and industrial facilities. Poor-quality materials, inadequate insulation or insufficient conductor material can contribute to overheating, electrical faults and fires when products are used in installations.
SON itself identifies electric cables among products that may adversely affect human life when they are not of good quality.
Onafowokan said the economic incentive for counterfeiters was significant because fake products could be manufactured using less material and inferior inputs while being sold at prices closer to those of genuine products.
He alleged that some substandard cables could contain 30 to 40 per cent less material by length.
That claim is an allegation made by the Coleman executive and should not be interpreted as applying to all counterfeit or substandard cables in the Nigerian market.
The wider concern, however, is that consumers may have difficulty distinguishing genuine products from sophisticated counterfeits, particularly when fake products carry markings or branding intended to resemble legitimate manufacturers.
Coleman says counterfeiters are increasingly operating locally
The company also raised concerns about the changing nature of Nigeria’s counterfeit-products market.
Coleman Executive Director, Michael Onafowokan, said counterfeiting was no longer limited to imported substandard products and that illicit cable production was increasingly taking place within Nigeria.
He urged SON to strengthen surveillance and enforcement against local producers of fake cables while ensuring that genuine manufacturers were able to compete in a market based on quality and compliance.
SON’s own compliance framework covers both locally manufactured and imported products. Its enforcement activities include factory inspections, market surveillance, laboratory testing, seizures and other compliance measures.
The regulator also operates the SONCAP system for regulated imports, under which products are assessed for conformity with applicable Nigerian standards or approved equivalents before shipment.
Police collaboration and possible prosecution
Onafowokan said Coleman had been working with the Nigeria Police Force, including the office of Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu and various zonal and state commands, as part of efforts to investigate cable counterfeiting.
He said the company had incurred substantial costs supporting investigations and legal proceedings, including laboratory testing of suspected adulterated cables.
The Coleman CEO also said the company was awaiting the conclusion of a case that could become the first in Nigeria in which an individual is convicted and jailed specifically for adulterating electrical cables.
The claim concerns a pending case and therefore does not establish that such a conviction has already occurred.
Call for review of penalties
Coleman’s Chief Operating Officer, Ilori Sanusi, called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to review existing laws dealing with counterfeiting and increase penalties for offenders.
Sanusi argued that sanctions should reflect the potential consequences of producing and distributing unsafe electrical products.
The call is not entirely new within Nigeria’s regulatory debate. SON previously said it wanted amendments to its governing legislation to provide stronger penalties, including possible imprisonment for manufacturers and importers of fake and substandard products.
However, any change in criminal penalties would require the appropriate legislative process rather than a unilateral decision by a manufacturer or regulator.
The wider economic impact
The counterfeit-cable issue also touches on Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing.
Genuine manufacturers invest in production facilities, testing, certification, skilled labour and quality-control systems. Counterfeiters who avoid those costs can potentially sell products at lower production costs, creating an uneven competitive environment.
Coleman therefore called for greater government support for local manufacturers under the Federal Government’s Nigeria First policy.
Onafowokan said the company had benefited from increased local-content opportunities in sectors including oil and gas and telecommunications.
The argument reflects a broader policy challenge: protecting consumers from unsafe products while ensuring that manufacturers that comply with national standards are not undermined by businesses operating outside the regulatory framework.
Why the issue matters to Nigerian consumers
For consumers, the controversy is ultimately about more than the financial losses of individual manufacturers.
Electrical cables are components of homes, offices, factories, telecommunications infrastructure and other facilities. When products sold as genuine fail to meet required specifications, the consequences can extend to property damage, electrical failures and potential loss of life.
SON says its quality-assurance mandate is intended to reduce risks, improve consumer confidence and ensure that Nigerian products meet appropriate standards. Its product-authentication system is also intended to help consumers verify the genuineness of certified products.
The challenge is ensuring that these systems are backed by effective market surveillance and credible enforcement.
For manufacturers, stronger prosecution could also help reduce the commercial advantage enjoyed by counterfeiters. For consumers, effective enforcement could make it more difficult for unsafe products to remain in circulation.
What happens next
Coleman’s call now puts renewed attention on SON’s enforcement activities, the police investigations it referenced and the role of lawmakers in determining whether existing penalties are sufficient.
The immediate focus will likely be on whether suspected counterfeiters are successfully identified and prosecuted, rather than only having their products seized and destroyed.
The company has also urged closer coordination between SON, the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Government, the National Assembly and other relevant agencies.
For consumers, the broader lesson is the importance of purchasing electrical products from reputable sources and checking applicable certification or authentication information where available.
The dispute also highlights a fundamental regulatory principle: effective standards require more than rules on paper. They require surveillance, testing, traceability, enforcement and, where violations are proven in court, penalties capable of deterring repeat offences.
Coleman’s demand for stiffer sanctions therefore places the spotlight on the next stage of Nigeria’s fight against counterfeit electrical products — moving from seizure and destruction towards stronger investigation, prosecution and accountability.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) — official information on Inspectorate and Compliance Monitoring.
- Standards Organisation of Nigeria — official information on product certification and authentication.
- Standards Organisation of Nigeria — official report on the seizure of more than ₦30 million worth of counterfeit electrical cables in Ekiti State.
- The Sun — report on Coleman’s call for stiffer penalties and stronger prosecution.
- Tribune Online — report on Coleman’s demand for jail terms and tougher penalties.
