Substandard products killing many Nigerians — Minister
Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo
• Invest In Ekiti, Fayemi Begs Industrialists As SON Inaugurates Regional Office, Laboratory
The Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, yesterday, said many Nigerians have died as a result of the use of substandard and adulterated products.
Speaking, yesterday, during the commissioning of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Ekiti State Zonal Office and laboratory complex in Ado Ekiti, Adebayo said such products included steel and roofing sheets, adulterated lubricants, explosions from continuous old and expired Liquefied Petroleum Gas LPG) cylinders and fires from substandard electric cables as well as expired and retreaded vehicular tyres.
Adebayo said: You will agree with me that hundreds of thousands of Nigerian lives have been cut short as a result of substandard and life-threatening products.
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi called on both local and international industrialists to avail themselves of the new facilities to invest in the state.
The governor said the inauguration of SON’s office was timely with the recent feasibility study and design of Ekiti Special Economic Zone Infrastructure currently ongoing through the ADB middle-income technical assistance grants.
Fayemi solicited SON’s support for farmers and processors through value addition to help increase commercial activities in the state.
He said the state would always maintain zero tolerance for substandard products and services.
Fayemi said: “Ekiti people are known for maintaining standards. I will not compromise standards. I am not oblivious of SON’s operations in the state and its efforts to make standards the people’s watchword. SON has shown more readiness for the proper execution of its mandate and as a responsible government agency.
“I, hereby, call on major industrialists to make use of this opportunity and avail themselves of the services and guidance of SON to drive the state towards the much-needed industrialisation and economic viability.”
The Director-General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim assured Nigerian that he would carry out the mandate of ensuring standard products and services.
