The Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, has said it confiscated fake and substandard products worth more than N300 billion across the country in the past few months.
Director General of the agency, Mr. Osita Aboloma, who disclosed this on Wednesday at a Stakeholders Workshop on SON Act 2015, in Lagos, said the agency had already commenced trial of those arrested in connection with the impounded goods.
According to him, among the seized products were adulterated lubricants, electric cables, and cylinders.
Aboloma, who was represented by Mr. Yaya Burka, Head, Ports and Border, SON, said the seizures by the agency were a testimonial that the agency was ready to use the powers conferred on it by the Act.
He said: “Let me inform you that the big hauls of seizures which the agency made recently is a testimonial that we mean business by harnessing to the fullest, the enormous powers which the act has accorded us.
“Within the last few months, we have confiscated fake and substandard products worth more than N300 billion across the country.
“We have since embarked on arraignment and trial at various courts of some of the suspects linked with the impounded goods. We are not resting on our oars.”
The SON DG said that the theme of the workshop, `SON Act 2015: Enhancing Quality, Harnessing Opportunities’, was very apt and in tune with the Federal Government’s efforts at turning around the country’s economy.
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He explained that the agency was conducting nationwide sensitisation workshops on the act not just to enlighten people on its provisions, but to also strengthen stakeholders’ collaborations and engagements.
He maintained that all products manufactured in Nigeria should be certified by the Nigerian Industrial Standards, NIS, through the agency’s Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme, MANCAP, which is subject to legal enforcement while all imported products must also be certified by the NIS or other approved standards through SON’s Offshore Conformity Assessment Programme, SONCAP.
Speaking, at the workshop, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law, SPIDEL, Dr. Paul Ananaba, SAN, noted that the additional functions introduced by the act was to assist SON in being more proactive in the prevention of substandard products in Nigeria.
Represented by Mr. Okey Barrah, Ananaba said, “This, in our opinion is very commendable in the sense that if the structures are put in place to register, track, maintain surveillance and assess the quality of products produced or imported in Nigeria, then there won’t be such influx of fake and substandard products in our market.”
