*Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, Director-General of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, affirms the market standards regulator has continued with enlightenment campaigns to educate traders to appreciate the huge loss to them and the country, by discontinuing purchase of fake and substandard products

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has expressed concerns about the increasing presence of fake and substandard products in major markets in the country.

Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, Director-General of SON, who raised the alarm, said the products were imported into the West African country by businesses he described as economic saboteurs.

绿帽献妻 gathered Dr. Okeke stated this during the destruction of substandard tyres, electric wires, spark plugs, and other unwholesome products worth billions of Naira in Lagos.

Represented at the exercise by Mr. Manji Pious, Director of the Inspectorate and Compliance Directorate, the Director-General noted that the destruction of the harmful products conformed to SON’s efforts at preventing the influx of substandard and fake products in Nigeria.

Okeke, however, expressed disappointment that despite SON鈥檚 efforts, some importers have continued to flood the country’s markets with dangerous products.

According to him, as SON does not take delight in destroying seized goods due to their multifaceted implications, including destruction of the country’s foreign reserve, the market regulatory Organisation would not allow such substandard products into the country.

He averred that fake and adulterated products pose a danger to consumers鈥� lives and property.

Besides, the destroyed items, which ranged from stuffed tyres and spark plugs, steel doors, and cables, all failed conformance tests and posed a serious risk to the health and safety of Nigerian consumers.

Okeke also said: 鈥淭his action is not just an administrative formality, it is an affirmation of our unwavering commitment to public safety, consumer protection and the promotion of fair trade practices in Nigeria.

鈥淭his destruction has led to a lot of economic losses because the traders not only lose their money from the sources but also the goods destroyed.鈥�

The Director-General further explained that SON has been embarking on an enlightenment campaign to educate traders on the need to appreciate the huge loss to them and the country in continuing to purchase fake and substandard products.

He equally averred that such public enlightenment campaign would touch on how best the traders could go about the business of importation of standard and genuine products into the country.