The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has put the value of substandard products it seized in the last one year, both those destroyed as well as those awaiting destruction, at a whopping N22.7 billion.
Speaking during the SON/Maritime Stakeholders awareness forum, with the theme,“Collaboration as a tool for zero substandard imports”, in Lagos, the Director-General of SON, Osita Aboloma, who was represented by Alhaji Muhammad Kabir, a Director in his office, said goods worth over N22.7 billion were seized In the last one year and they include LPG cylinders, Electric cables, lubricant, unfortified sugar, among others.
He stated that the nation’s economy and the lives of Nigerians were further endangered due to the influx of substandard goods , adding that the essence of the forum was to interact with the maritime players, to discuss import/export businesses, with the objective of getting them deeply committed to doing the right things, especially concerning import processes and procedures.
He also used the opportunity to inform the gathering that the SON Product Registration scheme was no longer a requirement for import clearance but rather for the imported products to be in the markets.
According to him, ” Collaboration is the key to success since SON cannot achieve the goal of zero importation of substandard products alone. I therefore implore you to join us to sensitise and educate all importers and the public on the importance of quality goods and products as well as the dangers associated with substandard and life-endangering products.
“The works of standardisation, quality assurance as well as campaign against the menace of substandard products remains a collaborative and partnership endeavour among SON and its stakeholders.
“Suffice to state that over 80 percent of products that enter into Nigeria daily, monthly or yearly are via the nation’s seaports and waterways.
“It is therefore critical to collaborate with the maritime sector operators in the quest for zero import of substandard and unwholesome products as well as the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business (EODB) policy.
“Therefore, continuous engagement with sectoral operators and stakeholders would help SON to carry everybody along in the zero tolerance to substandard, fake and counterfeit products campaign,” he stated.
He urged for more continuous and robust engagement of stakeholders in order to ease the challenges involved in standards enforcement and monitoring compliance.
