11th November, 2016
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has pledged zero tolerance for substandard products to ensure the well-being of the country.
Its Director General, Mr Osita Aboloma, said at one-day sensitisation workshop for electrical, electronics and allied products dealers in Akure on Friday that it would continually impound goods that were not certified.
Aboloma, who was represented by Mrs Mojisola Kehinde, the organisation’s Southwest Regional Coordinator, said it was painful that some unscrupulous business entities took advantage of the porous borders to import harmful products to the detriment of the economy
“We are here in Ondo State as part of our efforts to rid the Nigerian market of substandard products and improve Nigeria’s economy,” he said.
He said that the organisation was established to improve lives through standardisation and quality assurance by promoting consumer confidence and global competitiveness of Nigerian products and services.
Aboloma said the workshop was organised to sensitise the dealers on the dangers associated with selling sub-standard products such as electrical cables, household equipment and electric bulbs.
“It is very pertinent to sensitise this group on the acceptable standards in your sector and lay bare the dangers of engaging in substandard products,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Richard Adewumi, the Director of Electrical Electronics in the organisation, said that statistics showed that there was increase in fire outbreaks resulting from electrical and electronic products.
Adewumi said the situation prompted SON to organise workshops for the dealers to show them the dangers inherent in the sharp practices that characterised the sale of substandard equipment.
He advised them to play their roles in ensuring that Nigerians had access to quality products.
“What goes round comes around; when you engage in substandard and fake products, you end up buying the same too from the marketers.
“Therefore, let us desist from selling and buying them because your immediate family members may be the next victim,” Adewumi said.
The Coordinator of the organisation in the state, Mr Paul Oke, decried the adverse effects of substandard and fake products.
Oke said that 70 percent of complaints received by the organisation were on electrical and electronics wares.
He urged the dealers to make use of the workshop and correct any wrong doings in moving the country forward.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Victor Egbo, the Chairman of the Electrical Dealers Association in Akure, charged the Federal Government not to allow substandard electrical wares into the country.
Egbo said that his association had already constituted a taskforce to apprehend any member found culpable in the sale of substandard goods.
The theme of the workshop was “Understanding the Dangers of Substandard Electrical Electronics Products – Panacea for Economic Development.