General News
Against All Norms, Online Stores Now Trade On Counterfeit Goods
By Martins Tachio
A month to his wedding, while trying to decide where to buy a wedding ring for his soon-to-be bride and himself, Andy bumped into an online advert displaying designer wedding bands, bracelets and jewelries all of which was tagged ‘authentic’. He followed the link where he accessed an e-commerce jewelry store that maliciously claimed its stores are all over Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Andy placed orders for stuff worth over N180,000, the site responded with a confirmation email with freight code and delivery schedule for 10 working days. He signed out with a smile envisaging that his order was for genuine jewelry he will relish…within the ten day period for delivery, his parcels arrived Abuja Nigeria. In excitement, he hooked up with his girlfriend to share the good news. The bride-to-be, on sighting the jewelry told him they were fake!, In disbelief, he insisted they were worth it, took it home and hid the package for the wedding day.
The next time he opened his box to retrieve them, was on his bachelor’s eve; the rings, bracelets and all other supposedly magnificent stuff in the trinket box had turned Caramel in colour! In shock he looked closely at the pack they were shipped in, and observed they were shipped from Bangladesh when he ordered from Dubai! There, he knew immediately that he was conned by an online e-commerce store. Up until this moment, Andy does not trust any purchase online be they groceries or anything even less.
Andy’s case was even from overseas, now, a group of friends were relaxing somewhere in wuye district Abuja, when one of them fiddling his phone saw an advert displayed by a very popular online store in Nigeria, the ads were showing a variety of Bluetooth powered speaker boxes commonly used these days to play music at home and in parks, the products were so beautiful with warranty stamps on them and remarkably cheap as well. The guy showed his other friends the ad. All five of them used their individual phones to order…price was N7800 including delivery charges from Lagos to Abuja. None of them used their Bluetooth devices for up to 2 weeks after taking delivery.
This is just another case of counterfeit product purchase; several cases of misleading online ads and transactions abound in Nigeria today, every second and minute of the day. Though, it is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, but it may seem more difficult pursuing justice to the end here.
Truth is that, for every technological innovation and advancement, unscrupulous entities and individuals always use it for malicious intent. They use the internet and believability of e-commerce to perpetrate the peddling of counterfeit products that are especially in high demand.
Believe me, the problem is extensive. Available data indicate that there are over 2 billion digital buyers worldwide, and many experts project that retail e-commerce stores could gross over USD4.9 trillion before the end of 2021.
The FBI, Interpol, world customs organization and different chambers of commerce world over all agree that roughly 9% of global trade annually is comprised of fake and counterfeit goods.
The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) an agency of the federal government of Nigeria, which has the mandate of addressing consumer complaints, providing consumer education and encouraging trade, industry and quality standards to safeguard the interest of consumers has since fallen short of this mandate. Hence the government established the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) in 2019.
Two years down the line, the presence of the FCCPC is neither felt online nor among Nigerians that are daily fleeced of their hard earned money by various online e-commerce stores selling counterfeit goods with no attendant consequences.
The FCCPC despite having a powerful mandate of redressing consumer complaints, prosecution of offenders who through misleading adverts sell fake goods, has very little content in the information space.
As populist as it is conceived still remains underground by default, probably due to fact that many CEOs of federal government agencies are pretty technophobic!
Nigerian consumers face startling threats of purchasing fake goods as countries known for counterfeiting have got foothold in Nigeria and have moved their rogue businesses online unchecked.
The danger of allowing this to fester by agencies of government that should do better is that this phenomenon can compromise human health, cause serious injuries or death, not to mention the loss of money on products that do not work properly or at all.
Selling of counterfeit products online through globally established e-commerce platforms creates negative economic impact, whereby manufacturers and brands face unfair competition due to similar products sold at a fraction of the original’s price.
Law enforcement agencies should step up surveillance and monitoring both online and offline, ensure punitive sanctions on offenders publicly and be visible in every front.
The digital revolution is here, and will remain for the unforeseeable future, we are glad that it has presented humanity with robust benefits through internet connectivity at a previously inconceivable speed.
martins.tachio@gmail.com
…Church leaders accuse Welsh counterparts of “spiritual decadence” and “abandonment of faith”
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has issued a forceful condemnation of the election of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, as the Archbishop of Wales. The move is the latest in a series of developments that have deepened divisions within the global Anglican Communion over sexuality and doctrine.
In a statement from Primate The Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, the church denounced the election as a “serious departure from biblical teaching” and a sign of “spiritual decadence” and “an outright abandonment of the faith once delivered to the saints.”
Archbishop Ndukuba warned that Bishop Vann’s elevation compromises the Anglican Church’s global mission and could obstruct evangelism. He compared the situation to the controversial tenure of Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, former Presiding Bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church, who also faced intense criticism from conservative Anglicans for her progressive views.
The Primate accused Bishop Vann of being complicit in the “ongoing crisis” around same-sex issues, stating that the election is a “clear revelation that many who claim to be members of the body of Christ cannot endure sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:3–4).
The Church of Nigeria called on Anglicans worldwide to reject “rebels” and “apostates” and to instead support conservative bodies like the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON).
“The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) condemns, unequivocally rejects, and will not recognize the election of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann as Archbishop of Wales,” Ndukuba declared. He concluded with a solemn warning that without repentance, the Church in Wales risks losing “complete relevance” and its leaders will face judgment.
The Primate of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, has called on political leaders to prioritize the welfare of citizens.
During a recent church service in Abuja, Ndukuba noted that many Nigerians are struggling with challenges brought on by the global economic downturn. He urged state and local governments to implement new initiatives to lessen the impact on their communities.
The Primate also stressed that the federal government must effectively monitor its programs to ensure that Nigerians fully benefit from the nation’s democratic gains. He argued that if the current administration can effectively tackle corruption, the country would significantly benefit from the economic policies of President Tinubu’s government.
Ndukuba concluded by asking the congregation to continue praying for those in authority, remain committed to national unity, and show love and support for the less privileged. He also tasked the newly inducted members of the Church Mothers’ Guild with aggressively spreading the gospel.
Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche, has expressed deep concern about the current situation in Nigeria.
Enenche stated that the nation is under an evil spell due to the economic hardship affecting the country. He described Nigeria as being covered by a “blanket of sorcery and darkness,” leading many citizens to endure poverty and hardship in silence.
“There’s a blanket of sorcery and darkness over this nation—an evil spell making people tolerate what should provoke outrage,” he wrote.
In a post on his official X account on Thursday, the cleric highlighted the economic struggles faced by many Nigerians, noting that an increasing number of church members now line up after services not for spiritual counselling or prayer, but to help with basic needs such as rent, school fees, food, and medical bills.
“People are suffering. Pastors are exhausted. Members now queue after service not for prayer, but for assistance,” he lamented.
He also criticised political leaders for their insensitivity and failure to address the dire situation across the country.
“Yet, the leaders act as though nothing is wrong. This is not normal—it is witchcraft. It is a spell of patience in captivity, leading to a demonic tolerance of suffering.”
Calling for divine intervention, Enenche declared, “Let every evil spell over this land be broken! Let those misruling with arrogance and mocking the people’s pain face divine judgment. They shall not see the celebration of their wickedness.”
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