Samsung Electronics confirms seal of Lagos office by SON over product registration
Samsung Electronics West Africa has confirmed the forceful seal up of its Lagos office by the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) over what the agency fingered as no registration of products according to the extant laws.
However, the electronic giant in a statement sent to Business Hilights said “SON’s action was apparently due to a miscommunication between both parties regarding the registration of products in Nigeria. Samsung is working in collaboration with SON to reach an amicable resolution of the matter”.
“Samsung also wishes to reiterate that it is a best practice company, with footprints in over 79 countries worldwide. As an ethical company, Samsung will not willfully disrespect the laws and regulations in countries where it operates.
However, in a telephone interview with head of Public Relations of SON, he averred that “the action was in accordance with the provisions of the SON Act 14 of 2015”.
According to him, the Act provides for every product imported into Nigeria to be registered with SON for traceability and confirmation of quality status.
He noted further that “SON records showed that many Samsung products in the Nigerian markets were not registered,” stressing that “the facility would be reopened once the company registered all its products as required by law”.
“We are in the era of ensuring ease of doing business in Nigeria within the laws of the land,” Fashina said.
He said that the representatives of the company claimed ignorance of the need to register the products, and that they did not import nor sold products but only marketing them.
While noting that it was the duty of the distributors to register the products, checks by our correspondent on Wednesday evening showed that Samsung head office at Ikoyi was still under lock.
