The Japanese government has called on Federal Government to strengthens anti-counterfeiting measures in Nigeria in order to abate the continued infringement on rights of investors’ intellectual properties which may limit inflow of investments in the country.

According to the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), many Japanese products were being imitated in Nigeria, thus creating concerns for potential business interests in the country.

The Trade Commissioner/Managing Director of JETRO, Shigeyo Nishizawa, during a forum on Nigeria-Japan anti-counterfeiting seminar in Lagos, yesterday, said Japanese companies would be showcasing and differentiating their original products from the fake items as a measure to create awareness to enforcement agencies and the public.

The First Secretary, Head of Economic and Commercial Section, Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, Yasuhiro Hashimoto said government needs to improve the business environment by protecting intellectual properties in order to attract investments into the country.

He added that the number of Japanese companies in the country has risen from 13 in 2010 to 40 this year, noting that others have indicated interest in the Nigerian market.

On his part, the Director-General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Osita Aboloma explained that government’s ease of doing business was being undermined by counterfeiters and purveyors of sub-standard products.

Aboloma, who was represented by the agency’s Director, Compliance, Bede Obayi said: “One of the known sources of substandard products across the world is counterfeiting which in itself is illicit trade. It has been a major source of worry to governments, businesses and regulatory institutions in developed and developing economies.

“The case of Nigeria with her huge population and market, particularly within the West African region and the continent presents a worrying scenario for the negative effects of counterfeiting and the illicit trade associated with it”.

He cited lack of information, consumers’ complicity and weak regulatory frameworks as part of the reasons responsible for the thriving counterfeiting business, adding that SON was intensifying efforts in combating the scourge by collaborating with other agencies.

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) said the agency has been promoting intellectual property consciousness to check counterfeiting and trade in such goods.

Ali, who was also represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General, Muhammad Babandede sought collaboration of key stakeholders in checking the smuggling of intellectual properties in the country.

According to him, without information, there is little that enforcement agencies can do