By Aliyu DANLADI
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in Niger State, has urged traders in Minna central market to ensure that all their wares displayed for sale have the logo of Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS).
Mr Badewole Sunday, the state coordinator of SON, said this at a sensitisation programme organised for the traders in Minna on Tuesday.
The programme was tagged; “Public Awareness Campaign on the Dangers of Selling Substandard Products to Customers’’.
Sunday said such goods must also possess the Mandatory Conformity Assessment (MANCAP) logo to certify that they were standard.
“Supervision of this market showed that substandard goods are sold here. We are here to sensitise you on the difference between standard and substandard goods’’.
He said standard products improve quality of life, meet the expectations of the consumer and create orderliness.
The SON coordinator said that standard products promote good health and safety as well as minimises waste and losses.
He told the traders that if the NIS and the MANCAP logos were not found on product labels, they should seek for other alternative certified products.
Sunday also urged them to look out for the manufacturer’s location (address), product manufacturing and expiring dates, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) number before purchase.
He said other identification to check when purchasing goods include factory identification logo and collection of genuine receipts in case the products were substandard.
Also speaking, Alhaji Ado Garba, Market Supervisor (Sarkin Kasuwa) enjoined the traders to always check for the NIS and MANCAP logos and other information before purchasing their wares.
Garba lauded SON for the initiative, saying that it would go a long way in stamping out substandard goods in the market.
Malam Muhammad Koshe, the Chairman Market Union advised the traders to always display standard products that would not bring disrepute to the union.
