Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to
Samsung Electronics West Africa Limited to recall its Galaxy Note 7,
following inundated explosion of Galaxy Note 7 while charging while it
warned Nigerians to stop using the particular Note meanwhile.
The
Council in Abuja yesterday demanded Samsung to provide it with
information on the full status of its compliance with the global
directive on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 within the next one week.
CPC’s
also directed that Samsung Electronics West Africa Limited should
furnish it with other measures the company had taken to safeguard the
safety and interest of Nigerian consumers.
The Director-General
of CPC, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, said in line with international best practices,
the company should immediately issue a recall notice giving Nigerian
consumers adequate information on the procedure for recall and the
appropriate compensation being offered.
According to her, “While
awaiting the response of Samsung Electronics West Africa Limited in
order to determine the number of affected consumers in Nigeria, there is
an urgent need to avert whatever dangers that may be associated with
the use of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in Nigeria.”
The Director
General explained that Samsung had announced in the United States that
consumers with Samsung Galaxy Note 7 could check whether or not their
phones are affected and eligible for recall by entering the IMEI or
serial number of their phone in a space provided on Samsung website, www.samsung.com/us/note/recall/, saying that Nigerian consumers can avail themselves of that facility.
The
CPC DG however advised Nigerian consumers who might have purchased the
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 should to stop using the phone forthwith as an
interim measure to guide against the effect of the explosion.
Atoki
urged the company to ensure that affected consumers either get a free
replacement from Samsung, or a refund of their money, where necessary.
The Council, in a letter to the company dated September 14, 2016, signed
by its Director General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, said “The attention of the
Council has been drawn to media reports indicating that the lithium-ion
batteries for Samsung Galaxy Note 7 are prone to catching fire.”
The
letter further stated, “The said faulty batteries have reportedly
caused the phone to explode in 35 separate incidents, sometimes bursting
into flames, damaging property and leaking dangerous chemicals,”
expressing concern that “some Nigerian consumers may already have
purchased the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 for personal or other uses.”
“You
are, therefore, directed to, within seven days of the receipt of this
letter, furnish the Council with information on the full status of your
compliance with the global directive of Samsung to recall the Samsung
Galaxy Note 7 forthwith, including other measures you may have taken to
safeguard the safety and interest of Nigerian consumers in this
respect.” it added.
CPC is the apex consumer protection agency of
the Federal Government of Nigeria established by the CPC Act Cap 25,
LFN 2004 to, among others, educate Nigerian consumers, remove hazardous
products from the market, provide redress to consumer complaints and ban
the sale of products which do not comply with safety or health
regulations.