Unilever Nigeria and Customs partner to combat counterfeiting

Unilever Nigeria Plc and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership aimed at combating counterfeit and illicit trade. The collaboration seeks to improve supply chain visibility and ensure that only authentic, verified products reach Nigerian consumers.

The initiative focuses on addressing the risks posed by counterfeit goods, which include threats to public health, the erosion of consumer confidence, distorted market competition, and the loss of government revenue. The partnership is expected to be particularly impactful in the beauty and personal care sectors, where unsafe ingredients in fake products can compromise consumer wellbeing.

To achieve these goals, the two organizations will engage in intelligence sharing, capacity building, product authentication, and enhanced inspections. Tobi Adeniyi, Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc, noted that the partnership is a critical milestone in protecting the integrity of the marketplace, while NCS Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi emphasized the importance of public-private sector collaboration in fighting illicit trade.