₦100 billion lost to sub-standard products, SON boss laments

The Director General of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Osita Aboloma, has lamented that each time substandard goods were seized, their value was estimated at ₦100 billion.

Aboloma disclosed this in Lagos when he led a team on sensitisation of members of the Electrical Dealers Association of Nigeria (EDAN) on standard electrical products and other poor quality goods from the traders of Alaba International Markets, Ojo, Lagos.

He frowned at the loses which is not to the best interest of the economy.

The SON, declared during his visit at the market on sensitization for standard electrical products with all the stakeholders and Electrical Dealers Association of Nigeria.

Aboloma fashioned out other means to checkmate the influx of substandard goods by working in collaboration with the members of the EDAN.

He inaugurated six-man committee as ambassador to give report on the activities to both SON and EDAN.

He said that whenever they are apprehended for poor quality products, after destruction, they would be prosecuted.

He however inspected the displayed certified quality electrical products ranging from home and appliances along with others.

His Director, Inspectorate and Compliance Monitoring, Bede Obayi, advised them to get involved in a legitimate business than to get a middleman in registering their businesses because they would end up extorting them. He advised them to register on line because all their products can be accessed electronically.

Obayi said also that that they should develop their own brand for their name that would be of benefit to their children in the future.

The Chairman of EDAN, Mr. Fabian Ezeorjika, appealed for the collaboration of manufacturers, importers and all stakeholders, considering the agony of Nigerians consumers and the effects of these sub-standard and fake products.

The chairman admitted on the fake products in the market but lamented that even when some of these goods worth millions of naira have been confiscated by SON and destroyed by the agency; how they find their way into the market still baffle them.

He said that they had taken some bold steps to checkmate the influx of substandard electrical products into the markets.

He said that the collaboration between SON and EDAN will put them in a better pedestal .

The traders of Alaba International Markets urged Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to educate them on how to package quality goods that is in compliance of SON Act of 2015 that is accepted by Nigeria and International standards.

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