The premises of Samsung West Africa office in Victoria Island, Lagos recently came under the locks and keys by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, (SON), over alleged registration infractions on some of the products the company markets in Nigeria.

Head of Public Relations of SON, Mr Bola Fashina, says the action was in accordance with the provisions of the SON’s 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.

According to him,“SON records showed that many Samsung products in the Nigerian markets were not registered.” Fasina, while disclosing that the sealed off facility would be reopened once the company registered all its products as required by law, warned against any flouting of the law.

He said,“We are in the era of ensuring ease of doing business in Nigeria within the laws of the land.” He said that the representatives of the company feigned ignorance of the need to register the products, and that they did not import or sold products, but only marketed them. Fashina said that it was the duty of the distributors to register the products.

Meanwhile, Samsung has issued a holding statement on the SON’s action saying that: “Electronics West Africa’s office was besieged by SON,” adding that SON’s action was due to ‘miscommunication’ between both parties. Samsung said, “We want to confirm that the office of Samsung Electronics West Africa in Lagos was recently besieged by the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON).

“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 reiterates that as a best practice company with footprints in over 79 countries worldwide, it “will not willfully disrespect the laws and regulations of the countries where it operates.”