SON destroys fake, substandard products worth N20b

Determined to rid the country of counterfeit products, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has confiscated fake and substandard products worth over N20 billion.

The Director General of SON, Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, disclosed the development during a sensitization campaign and stakeholders’ engagement in Kano.

Dr. Okeke, who explained the agency’s commitment to safeguarding the health of citizens and ensuring quality assurance in Nigerian markets, insisted that no effort would be spared to track down unwholesome activities.

He further stated that the organisation has made massive seizures in sectors such as LPG gas cylinders, tyres, cables, aluminium roofing sheets, and lubricants, where it has ‘named and shamed’ substandard lubricants manufacturers, importers, and dealers.

Besides the destruction of the counterfeit products, the SON Chief Executive, represented by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Talatu Ethan, emphasized measures to prosecute suspects arrested in connection with the crime.

Dr. Okeke stressed that the essence of the campaign was to sensitize stakeholders on their roles in supporting the federal government to upscale the standardization of locally manufactured and imported products.

He said, “Concerning our monitoring and enforcement activities, let me tell you that for this year alone, we have beamed a sustained searchlight on some sectors where there have been sharp practices and short-changing of product end-users.

“We carried out massive seizures in sectors such as LPG gas cylinders, tyres, cables, aluminium roofing sheets, and lubricants, among others. In the lubricants sub-sector, for instance, we have decided to ‘name and shame’ substandard lubricants manufacturers, importers, and dealers.

“This is after we conducted proper classification and verification exercises in the sector, which have now put us in a position to identify the unscrupulous dealers. Overall, our enforcement activities so far for the year have resulted in a massive haul of confiscated fake and counterfeit products worth over N20 billion,” he said.

The DG of SON appealed to stakeholders, including licensed travel agencies and manufacturers, to partner with the agency to curb the influx and prevalence of substandard products in the country.

He insisted that SON will compel all products, whether locally made or imported, to comply with the minimum requirements of the Nigeria Industrial Standards to protect the country’s image in the global market.

He said SON is ready to transform accreditation, registration, and quality assurance of products with its automated processes and procedures to enhance trade facilitation in the nation’s maritime sector.

Dr. Okeke added that the automation of services has eliminated personal contacts or physical meetings for business transactions, thus reducing corruption, checking touts, and shortening the time spent on business transactions, among other benefits.

He posited that the unprecedented integration of SON’s e-certificates and services into the Nigeria Integrated Customs Services (NICIS) requires commensurate responses from stakeholders for effective enlightenment and campaigns.