LAGOS - The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has through a tip-off, trailed 60 truck loads of sub-standard products which found their way into Lagos, through the Idi-roko border to ASPAMDA Market, a popular spare parts market situated at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.
The goods valued at N3 billion, would be subjected to SON conformity test to acertain their authenticity.
The Director General of the Organisation, Dr John Akanya, briefing the media disclosed that the goods found their way into the country without due process and their owners are currently at large. “It was through the patriotism of some of our compatriots, SON enforcement team, that the goods were discovered”
Represented by the head of Enforcement, Mr. Nelson Adebiyi, he said economically, such act by importers pose a great danger to patriotic efforts of Nigerian Manufacturers who have been toiling to grow the country’s economy and provide the much needed employment for the youths.
According to him, “The Standards Organisation of Nigeria in an effort to address the issues of importation, distribution and sales of substandard products in Nigeria instituted about 3years ago, an offshore Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) for all products targeted for the Nigerian market from all parts of the world”.
The programme he emphasised, had come a long way with lots of efforts on the part of some unpatriotic Nigerians to ensure that it does not see the light of day.
But the programme got the endorsement of the Government and full support and encouragement of the Nigerian people particularly our sister regulatory and security Agencies. “ the programme is not only succeeding but is regularly undergoing review for improved impact. A local version of it, the Mandatory Conformity Assessment programme was also introduced for all locally manufactured products”
Mr. Adebiyi disclosed that With the cooperation of the Leaders of the ASPAMDA Market Association “we are escorting the goods to Warehouses where they will be sealed up till results of Laboratory analysis are concluded for decisions to be taken on each of the products.
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