The Nigeria Customs Service says it has partnered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to fight counterfeit goods within the zone.

The zone ‘A’ spokesman in Lagos, Edeminam Akaninyene, in a statement, said that the collaboration would focus on strengthening Intellectual Property protection, border enforcement, and combating counterfeit goods.

He explained that the zonal coordinator, Mohammed Babandede, received the delegation and welcomed the strategic partnership on Wednesday.

Mr Babandede reaffirmed the zone’s commitment to promoting legitimate trade and protecting intellectual property rights. He said that effective intellectual property enforcement safeguards businesses, protects consumers, and encourages innovation.

According to him, the enforcement would also strengthen government revenue and enhance national economic security, stressing the need for intelligence sharing, capacity building and technology deployment.

Mr Babandede called for sustained engagement with relevant stakeholders in the intellectual property ecosystem, describing the visit as an opportunity to strengthen institutional relations and cooperation.

USPTO representative Julie LeBlanc underscored the need for closer collaboration between IP institutions and border agencies, stating that the partnership was key to stopping illicit movement of counterfeit and infringing products.

Customs’ area controller (Federal Operations Unit), Gambo Aliyu, urged manufacturers to share product, distribution and supply chain data.

Mr Aliyu said such information would enhance the fight against piracy and counterfeiting.

During the meeting, the two institutions pledged their commitment to a secure, transparent and efficient trading environment.

(NAN)