By Giwa SHILE
The Paint Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMA) has expressed concern over the unsolved and recurring challenge of adulterated and fake paints products in the country.
The President of the association, Mr Rotimi Aluko, , expressed the concern during the association’s 30th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday in Lagos.
He said that the menace had led to loss of revenues by many operators and even the government and this had negatively impacted on the reputation of companies whose products were adulterated. thereby contributing to the nation’s high unemployment rate.
“The efforts of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to rid the industry of fake and substandard products via monitoring and enforcement of standards have not yielded the desired results.
“However, we are still collaborating with the agency on the way forward and it is hoped that with the coming into operation of the revised standards for paints, the organisation will be able to do more in reducing the level of adulteration and faking in the paints industry,” he said.
He said that SON and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) should make it compulsory for all paint manufacturers in the country to be registered with them.
“This will assist SON to ascertain who is doing what and where. Enforcement of indication of full and correct location addresses on packaging will go a long way in solving the problem too,” he said.
The President urged governments at the three levels to patronise made-in-Nigeria paints and other products, adding that the craze for imported goods by most Nigerians should be stopped starting with government.
Aluko also urged the Federal Government to formulate policies that would increase patronage of locally produced paints.
“Government can embark on urban renewal and modernisation in all cities. Such programmes can instigate regular painting and repainting of both government and individual properties, thereby improving our maintenance culture.
“Painting is not a luxury unlike what most Nigerians think. It is a necessity because it helps to maintain and even enhance the value of the property, while at the same time adding beauty to It.,” he said.
He urged government to increase investment in power, road and rail infrastructure toward improving the business environment and enabling businesses operate at optimum levels.
The paint industry has over N50 billion investment and two hundred million litres of installed capacity of assorted paints.
