Unilever Nigeria, Customs Service partner to combat counterfeit products, illicit trade

In a move to further protect consumers, strengthen legitimate trade, and bolster Nigeria’s economy, Unilever Nigeria Plc has formed a strategic partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The partnership establishes a structured framework for collaboration aimed at combating counterfeit and illicit trade, enhancing supply chain visibility, and ensuring that only authentic, verified products are available to consumers throughout Nigeria. Counterfeit products pose serious risks to public health, undermine consumer confidence, distort competition, and diminish government revenue. Every Nigerian consumer deserves assurance that the products they purchase are safe, genuine, and of the expected quality.

This issue is particularly pressing in the beauty and personal care sectors, where counterfeit products can expose consumers to harmful ingredients and erode trust in legitimate brands committed to operating responsibly in Nigeria.

Beyond the scale of the problem, the long-term trust in brands, products, and the overall market system is at stake. Thus, addressing counterfeiting is essential not only for consumer protection but also for maintaining confidence in legitimate trade and investments.

Through this partnership, Unilever Nigeria and the Nigeria Customs Service will collaborate on sharing intelligence, capacity building, product authentication, inspections, and other initiatives designed to enhance enforcement and protect legitimate businesses.

At the signing ceremony, Tobi Adeniyi, Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc, described the partnership as a crucial milestone in the fight against counterfeiting.

“Counterfeiting poses a significant threat to public health, businesses, and the broader economy. It undermines consumer trust and creates an uneven playing field for legitimate businesses,” he said.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to protecting consumers and preserving market integrity.

“By combining our expertise in product authentication with the enforcement capabilities of the Nigeria Customs Service, we are taking decisive steps to curb counterfeits and ensure consumers have access to genuine, safe, and high-quality products.”

Adeniyi emphasized that this collaboration highlights the importance of public-private partnerships in tackling complex challenges that affect both businesses and society.

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The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, stated, “We are committed to implementing this agreement transparently and professionally, in line with our mandate.

The fight against counterfeiting and other forms of illicit trade cannot be won by one organisation acting alone.

“Partnerships like this are crucial, as they combine the strengths of both the public and private sectors in pursuit of a common goal.

“Beyond protecting businesses, this is about safeguarding Nigerian consumers and enhancing their confidence in the products they purchase daily. “We are pleased to partner with Unilever Nigeria and look forward to translating this commitment into tangible results that strengthen legitimate trade, support economic growth, and uphold market integrity.”

This Memorandum of Understanding represents a significant advancement in the fight against counterfeiting and illicit trade in Nigeria. By uniting industry expertise and regulatory enforcement, Unilever Nigeria and the Nigeria Customs Service are establishing a framework for deeper collaboration, stronger intelligence sharing, sustained capacity building, and more effective protection of intellectual property rights.

The true success of this partnership will be reflected in consistent execution and measurable results across ports, border corridors, and supply chains. Ultimately, this collaboration aims to protect consumers, promote fair competition, and create the conditions necessary for legitimate trade and economic growth to thrive.