SON absence at borders aiding fake products’ influx – DG
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria says the absence of its officials at the entry points into the country is responsible for the influx of substandard goods into the country.
The Director-General/Chief Executive of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, stated this in Calabar during a stakeholders’ sensitisation forum on Thursday.
Salim, who spoke through the Director of the South/South region of SON, Usman Mohammed, said the absence of the organisation at these points, particularly the ports, makes it difficult to control the entry of these goods into the markets.
He stated, “Most of the substandard goods get into the country either through the ports or borders and the government in its wisdom some years back decided to take the SON out of the seaport, which is the entry point.
“If you are not there at the seaports where all these things come in, how will you be able to control it? That means you will start running after them in the town which makes it very difficult.
“If we are at the entry point, it makes it very easy to nip it in the bud. However, the government is considering taking us back to the port and a large number of substandard products will be prevented from getting into the country.”
He added that the aim of the sensitisation was to enlighten manufacturers in the state on the need to adhere to standards.
He explained that as the continent moves towards free trade, “we need to make sure that our manufacturers update their activities and improve on quality because if they don’t do so, other countries will take over the market.”
SON’s Director of Marketing, Richard Adewunmi, said at the event that about 400 firms had received the Management Systems Certification to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
He added, “What this does is that any organisation that subscribes to that, we are sure they have put in place proper management systems in line with the requirements of the standards.”
Also, the Cross River State coordinator of SON, Ninma Apim, said compliance with SON specifications was critical to improving goods and services.
Usen Umoh from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria also said MAN would continue to partner with SON to ensure that locally manufactured goods were always up to standard.
