The Director General of SON, Osita Aboloma handed down the warning on Tuesday in his address presented on the occasion of Zero Tolerance To Substandard Products Awareness Program in collaboration with International Market Association (Electronics), Alaba International Market, Lagos.
Aboloma who was represented by a Director in DG’s office, Dr. Kabiru Mohammed called on the union to expose those responsible for the importation of such products as well as assist SON in sanitizing the markets to ensure that only products that meets the requirements of standards are only sold in that market.
“Sanitizing Alaba will go a long way in sanitizing other electronics market in Nigeria and indeed West Africa since they buy from here.
“I therefore urge you to once again join hands to make Nigeria better for us all and in particular for the upcoming generations.
He said the SONCAP Act 14 of 2015 have provided them with enough instruments to deal with anyone endangering the lives of Nigerians, and warned them to avoid non compliant trade.
Aboloma used the forum to announce the approval of the establishment of a joint task force comprising of officials of SON and the Alaba International Market Association (Electronics), which would be inaugurated
soon, adding that the Committee would assist in sanitizing the market and ensure that only products that meets the requirements of the standards are sold in the market.
Aboloma adviced importers and traders to create their personal brands and register it with SON , while urging them to deviate from faking branded products.
The SON Chief Executive made it clear that it is their responsibility to protect Nigerians from the harm and hazards of substandard products, which according to him , in some cases leads to death, injuries, accidents, less value for money spent in purchases, assuring that the Organisation would continue to partner with the Stakeholders with a view to fight influx of substandard products into the country.
Aboloma however pointed out that the deliberate , willful importation of substandard products by Nigerians and their foreign collaborators in adulteration, counterfeiting, faking of quality products and false declaration of goods as their major challenge.
“Therefore SON is working in synergy with other associations to identify the fraders that deal on substandard products in order to stop them from engaging in such practices. We want to fight the war front within because you know those who are not compliant. Those importers and traders who are not yet ready to comply are enemies if the country because their trade practices are dangerous to life.
“We must protect the interest of genuine importers and traders by eradicating the substandard products in the market and ensure that Nigerians get value for money spent on electronics.
” It is our responsibility to ensure that the electronic products in our markets are safe to use. The electronic market in Alaba is reported to be the largest in West Africa big not in Africa. It would therefore, be a thing of joy if this market is noted for good and quality products”,he concluded.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Chairman, International Market Association (Electronics), Alaba International Market Ojo, Evangelist Paulinus Ugochukwu applauded the role and efforts of SON in sanitizing and ridding the Nigerian markets of substandard products, adding that the association had taken numerous steps in ensuring that the market stocks and sells standard, authentic and genuine products
Evangelist Ugochukwu however appealed to the Federal Government to consider reopening of our borders to African countries for genuine business transactions, as well as constructing access roads to the markets for easy entry and exit.
