SON map out strategies to tackle substandard products


The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says it would deploy various strategies including the use of automation, intelligence gathering and compliance monitoring to protect consumers against the effect substandard and life-endangering products.

The Director General of SON, Osita Aboloma said that the challenge of challenge of combating dumping of substandard and life-endangering products has made been made difficult with it absen at the seaports.

He said the agency was prepared for the implications of Nigeria’s signature to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement recently accented to by President Buhari.

According to him, the agency has been working in close collaboration with other Ministries, Agencies and Departments of government as well as development partners to develop the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) to cater for the free movement of goods and services in Africa.

He enumerated some of the NQI project already delivered by SON as including a National Metrology Institute nearing completion in Enugu, international accreditation of SON laboratories, its training and management systems certification services as well as ongoing automation of all services to stakeholders.

This, he said, is aimed at promoting the ease of doing business in and with Nigeria. 

According to him, SON has been championing the harmonization of Standards within the ECOWAS region and the African continent through the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO).

The SON helmsman said it has developed Standards for artisanship such as carpentry, masonry, fashion design, painting among many others to ensure free exchange of the services particularly within West Africa. 

The SON Chief Executive extolled the existing robust collaboration among sister regulatory and security agencies in the fight against substandard products but called for greater synergy, stressing that no efforts should be spared in trying to protect the Nation’s economy and the welfare of its people.

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