LAGOS: The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) as part of its renewed commitment in demonstrating its zero tolerance for substandard goods, has destroyed substandard products worth over N500 million in the country.
Head of Inspectorate and Compliance, SON, Mr. Bede Obayi, explained that despite all efforts carried out by the agency to sensitise the citizenry on the negative effects of fake and substandard goods, the illicit trade still thrives in the country
Obayi during the destruction exercise at the agency’s dump site in Shagamu, Ogun state, said the goods being destroyed include electric armored cables, flashlights, rechargeable lamps, expired supermarket breakfast cereals, extension sockets, engine oil, ball pens amongst others, also describing the destruction as an economic loss to the nation.
According to him, the substandard goods destroyed were about 80 per cent electricity cables in nine trucks, noting that the goods were intercepted by its vigilant enforcement and monitoring personnel at various points such as, the ports, border stations and unapproved routes.
”We need to evacuate and destroy them completely as they pose dangers to life and ruin the nation’s economy.”
He explained that the products were burnt in accordance with SON’s procedure which started with market survey, surveillance, inventory, seizure, sampling, laboratory tests and analyses to ascertain conformity to specifications and requirements of Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS).
He said: “It is disheartening that despite all efforts carried out by the agency to sensitive the citizenry on the negative effects of fake and substandard goods, the merchants continue to engage in the illicit trade.
We are going to intensify our efforts to ensure that these kinds of products do not circulate in the Nigerian markets and importers should desist from the acts because this is not a battle they will win, ” he said.
He noted that National Quality Policy (NQP) when endorsed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would accelerate the global competitiveness and high rate of acceptability of locally produced goods after been certified of meeting the quality and standard requirements in Nigeria.
He stressed that the standards body had repeatedly appealed to importers to bring in goods that meet the minimum requirements of the NIS in order to give consumers value for their hard earned money spent.
