SON seeks collaboration on reducing substandard goods production

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has called on the public to report any substandard product to complement its efforts of eliminating fake goods in the country.

The Director-General of the SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, said this during an exhibition for MANCAP-certified products in Kano.

Salim said the essence of the exhibition was to create awareness among the public about products that improve well-being, adding that the effort is also to encourage the companies to do more and employ people to address unemployment in the country.

He said the call had become necessary following reports received by the organisation’s enforcement unit, adding that anyone involved in substandard products would be dealt with accordingly.

He revealed that SON has over the past 50 years, done a lot in promoting and protecting products consumed by Nigerians in ensuring products are produced up to the standard.

“Part of our primary duty is to ensure that Nigerians not only consume products that are up to standards, but also to be exporting goods that would be accepted across the globe.

The DG also said “One of the biggest achievements we have is the establishment of Halal institute in Kano. Halal institute consists of training, a regional centre and the laboratory which is the same as Lagos laboratory”.

The Director General said industries can enroll their employees in the centre to be trained on management training and in producing standard products.

He also tasked industries to reach out to the organisation when their products were being copied to enable the organization act against the criminals.

On his part, Kano state governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, said the state government was ready to partner with SON to support local industries coming up in the state.

Represented by the commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Ibrahim Mukhtar, the governor urged SON to train its staff on identifying substandard products.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, a Kano based rice processor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gerawa, thanked SON for organising the event.

“We are happy that SON is helping towards producing standard products. This is to our advantage because our products are now certified and can be exported everywhere in the world,” Alhaji Gerawa said.

He urged the Federal Government to sustain the fight against the smuggling of imported rice into the country.

His words: “In no little time, Nigeria will be self-sufficient in rice production and net exporter of rice to neighbouring countries”.

He noted that the dividends of actualisation of self-sufficiency in rice production might not be visible now, saying the sector is creating wealth and generating employment.

The representative of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Jigawa Branch, Mr Ibrahim Kabiru commended SON’s efforts in repositioning of made in Nigeria products.