Kano probes sale of substandard solar panels

The Kano State Consumer Protection Council has begun an investigation into complaints by members of the public regarding the sale of solar panels that do not meet the power output specifications indicated on their labels.

The Executive Secretary of the KCPC, Dr Ibrahim Garba-Muhammad, made this known in a statement issued by the council’s Director of Public Enlightenment, Jamilu Mustapha, on Wednesday in Kano.

“The council will conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and take appropriate action in line with relevant consumer protection laws if the claims are substantiated.

“We will ensure that consumers are protected from deceptive trade practices and products that do not meet approved quality standards,” he said.

Garba-Muhammad commended the complainants for drawing the council’s attention to the matter.

He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to protecting consumers from substandard products, promoting fair trade practices, and ensuring accountability in the marketplace.

In a petition submitted on behalf of the complainants, Yusuf Sani raised concerns over the activities of some solar panel dealers who allegedly mislead consumers by labelling their products with power ratings that do not correspond to the actual output of the panels.

Sani said a significant discrepancy had been observed between the labelled capacity and the actual power generated.

According to him, this could damage batteries used for energy storage and, in some cases, pose a risk of battery explosions.

He also alleged that many of the products were imported without adequate quality assurance or compliance with the required standards.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the council, on July 17, said it had confiscated substandard goods valued at more than ₦300 million over the previous three months.

(NAN)

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