SON calls for importers’ cooperation to combat substandard products

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has urged importers to ensure the products they bring into the country meet all the regulatory approvals.

Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, SON Director-General/ Chief Executive, made the call at stakeholders sensitisation programme in Awka.

Okeke was represented at the event by Mrs Foluso Bolaji, the Director of Public Relations.

He said that counterfeits should have no place to hibernate within Nigeria because of their dangerous implication to lives of the people and health of the economy.

He said Nigeria needed to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the African common market to attain economic and trade development.

He said the agency had been confiscating fake and sub-standard products worth billions of naira across the country, stressing that it would not relent.

Okeke reassured Nigerians that no person, group,  sector or region was being targeted by the organisation.

“We have since embarked on arraignment and trials at the various federal courts of suspects linked with the failed and impounded goods.

“Let us not allow fake and uncertified imports find their way into our markets. This is what the SON Act tries to tackle.

“All imported products must also be certified by the Nigerian Industrial Standards or other approved standards through SON’s Offshore Conformity Assessment Programme.

“We should know that registration and certification are vital tools for product competitiveness.

“This forum would, therefore, not be different in eliciting more support, collaborations as well as challenging all stakeholders in Anambra and adjoining states on the need to follow right processes for mutual business growth and public safety,” he said.

Okeke said the nationwide stakeholders’ sensitisation was to enlighten operators on the provisions of the SON ACT No. 14 of 2015.

He added that it would strengthen stakeholders’ engagement and collaborations.

Okeke said that SON had one of the best ISO Management Systems.

He noted that SON had continually updated its training programmes to suit the latest international standards, practices and principles.

“As operators, we urge you to always certify your product’s quality with SON in order to make made-in-Nigeria products and services good to go anywhere in the world,” he said.

He appealed to the stakeholders to be ‘on board the standards voyage’ by ensuring strict adherence to standards and quality assurance for growth and development.

“The work of standardisation is to grow Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, promote agro-allied sector, ensure safety of lives and property as well as ensure industrial and economic development.

“Let us endeavour to grow our own product brands and encourage more investments by standards adherence,” he said .

In his presentation, Mr Manji  Lawan, Director, Inspectorate and Compliance Directorate, SON, warned Nigerians against the use of fairly-used tyres and weak gas cylinders.

Lawan urged the stakeholders to join in the fight against importation of substandard products.