Sub Standard Goods Find Ways Into Nigeria Through Smuggling, Fake Stickers – SON DG

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has expressed worries that in spite of the Organisation’s efforts, substandard products are still finding their ways into the country’s market through smuggling and use of fake  stickers on non-certified products therefore making it necessary for the Agency to marshal out plans that will save the nation’s economy as well as protect the domestic industries.

The Director General, SON Mallam Faruk Salim who disclosed this  in agency’s continuous quest to protect consumers and bolster their confidence through its numerous services held a one-day sensitisation programme to educate stakeholders in Kano and environs on Product Authentication Mark (PAM) and E- Demand note and E- Receipts (EDER) technologies.

He said  the PAM initiative was to curb the influx of substandard products into the open market.

He mentioned that the new technology was put in place to complement SON’s Conformity Assessment programme popularly called SONCAP in progression of the fight against substandard and counterfeit products making their ways into Nigeria.

He further described the PAM as a digital tool that will help consumers detect and reject substandard goods in the market. This he says will in-turn harness wealth creation and improve security of lives and properties.

On the Electronic Demand Notes and Receipts, the SON helmsman said SON was digitalizing all its processes in line with relevant Executive Order on the Ease of Doing Business, stating that this brings about accountability and transparency as well as making it easier for customers that patronize SON services to undertake their transactions with us without physical contact in SON office locations.

Presentations were made by the Director of Product Certification Department, Mr. Tersoo Orngudwen, who urged importers to get the PAM identification logo informing them that the technology will not only protect consumers but will also give them powers to make choices when making purchases.

Furthermore, the Director Finance & Account, Mr. Aaron Tam-George, who spoke on e-payment as a tool for ease of doing business buttressed that an individual could easily access the EDER system from the comfort of his home without having to go through unnecessary long queue and incurring unnecessary logistics in the process.

Other speakers at the event included the representative of the Emir of Kano, Alh. Bashir Dankade, who commended the DG and SON at large for working tirelessly in protecting consumers against substandard products and services.

There was questions and answers session immediately after the presentations to enable the Stakeholders have full understanding of schemes and also to assuage their worries by assuring them that the implementation of the two schemes was to protect Nigerians.