Fake Products: SON confiscates N30.5m electric cables
By Charles Okonji
In a renewed war against fake and substandard products, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Tuesday seized fake electrical cables and wires worth N30.5 million in Ekiti State.
The seizeur occurred during a raid in some major markets in the state, having received an intelligence that some of the vendor have compromised standards by selling fake cables.
In line with SON mandate, the Agency’s taskforce sealed off some of the shops after confistication of the substandard items in truckloads.
Speaking to Mr Pius Manji, Director, Inspectorate and Compliance Department, SON, after the raid, he stated that the exercise was aimed at sanitising the markets of substandard cables and wires.
Manji who was represented by Engr Joel Aboyeji, SON noted the substandard items were evacuated to prevent them from going into circulation.
According to him, “the unscrupulous importer even went as far cloning popular brands in an effort to deceive innocent and unsuspecting members of the public.
“Such development could affect local manufacturers, investments in the sector and posed grave dangers to households most of which would be prone to fire outbreaks as a result of using the substandard products.
“We would not relent in its mandate of ensuring that only quality products are allowed in the markets.
“The confiscated cables and wires would be destroyed, as SON would not relent until, it prosecutes electrical dealers who flood the markets with fake products.”
He pointed out that SON’s enforcement team would continue to burst dubious importers and sellers dealing in substandard electrical materials, just as he warned dealers of electrical cables to desist from selling the products or risk continued seizure of the products by the regulatory agency.
“Their action does not only sabotage and destroy local industries and our economy but also put the lives of Nigerians in danger.” He stressed.
