CONCERNED stakeholders in the furniture industry have bemoaned the influx of sub-standard imports from Asian countries, which are flooding Nigerian market, and urged the regulatory agencies to beam searchlight on such products.The stakeholders lamented the huge impact of the menace on the Gross Domestic Products (GDP), which they claimed, has drastically reduced national earnings through waste and capital flight.The Managing Director, Emilinks Furniture Limited, Mr. Solomon Emeka Nwadiogbu, who recently launched campaign against substandard products in the country, said all hands must be on deck to ensure that quality standard woods and furniture get their desired stake in the Nigerian market.Applauding the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and other regulatory agencies for their efforts towards reducing fake products in the country, Nwadiogbu described the menace as constituting waste and killing the furniture industry.He therefore advocated for strict enforcement and holistic enlightenment programmes to complement its 'Kick against waste' campaign to sanitise the furniture industry.He said furniture is an essential part of human life, hence the need for adequate attention to quality products that portraits the value for money.According to him, the 'kick against waste' campaign is to eliminate low quality doors and windows because it unnecessarily drains the pocket of buyers without value for money.'The kick against waste campaign is geared towards bringing to a stop the drain in people's pocket. We are passionate about the quality of materials in the country and the pain buyers go through in the process of replacement, hence the campaign. We hope we would be contributing our quota to riding the country of substandard material and succeeding in kicking against waste in Nigeria,' he said.He however stressed that Emilinks has always demonstrated an uncompromising commitment to quality and takes great care in selecting and processing woods, a philosophy which has always provided the basis for company activities.Another expert, the Managing Director of Unique Furniture and Fittings, Mr. Emeka Nwankego, said furniture buyers needed experts' touch on the furniture, interior decoration, home textile and latest products, accessories, models, innovations and management solutions in the country.This, he noted, would eradicate the idea of acquiring substandard products, and broaden their knowledge of market on various quality products and designs that are brilliantly carved by some distinguished furniture makers.'Besides, it brings to limelight the importance and usefulness of different types of wood on finishes.'The more users know about the unique characteristics of wood and its source, the better one can understand the degree of warmth and beauty that it brings to our everyday dcor', he said.He explained: 'Furniture made of wood is one of the few things in the world that all people can own and know that they are the only person in the world who owns that particular grain pattern and its inherent beauty.
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