Galaxy Note 7 Explosion: FG Queries Samsung, Gives Company Seven-Day Ultimatum
Following reported explosions of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Samsung Electronics West Africa Ltd to provide full status of its compliance with the global directive of the South Korean firm.
This was contained in a statement by the Head of Public Relations, CPC, Mr Abiodun Obimuyiwa, in Abuja on Sunday, who added that the directive was in respect of the company’s decision to recall the Galaxy Note 7.
CPC is the apex consumer protection agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, established by the CPC Act Cap 25, LFN 2004.
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It is meant to educate 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, the New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The incident comes amid a recall of the Note 7 phones across the globe including South Korea and the United States due to faulty batteries causing the devices to catch fire while charging or in normal use. Samsung has said it has sold 2.5 million phones equipped with the suspect batteries.
CPC said it had received numerous complaints from users of explosion of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 while charging.
”The ultimatum came on the heels of recent global recall of the product following its defective battery.
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”CPC, however, demanded that Samsung Electronics West Africa Ltd. furnish it with other measures the company might have taken to safeguard the safety and interest of Nigerian consumers,” the statement said.
The statement noted that CPC, in a letter by its Director-General, Mrs Dupe Atoki, on Sept. 14 to the company, said reports showed that the said phone’s batteries were prone to explosion.
”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 agency’s letter stated further that the said faulty batteries have reportedly caused the phone to explode in 35 separate incidents.
”Sometimes bursting into flames, damaging property and exuding dangerous chemicals.
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“‘This calls for concern as some Nigerian consumers may already have purchased the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 for personal or other uses,” it stated.
As an interim measure, the Council’s Director-General further advised Nigerians who have purchased the Note 7 to stop using the device for the time being, till the situation isresolved.
The statement quoted Atoki as saying that,” there is an urgent need to avert whatever dangers that may be associated with the use of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in Nigeria.
”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.
”The company should ensure that affected consumers either get a free replacement from Samsung, or a refund of their money, where necessary,” it said.
According to the statement, consumers in the United States with Samsung Galaxy Note 7 could check whether or not their phones were affected and eligible for recall.
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It added that consumers could do this by entering the IMEI or serial number of their phone in a space provided on Samsung website, (www.samsung.com/us/note/ recall/). Nigerian consumers can also check if their devices were affected by following the same steps.
