The Director General (DG) of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu has sued for jail terms for importers of fake and adulterated products into the country the DG said that the importation of substandard goods into the country has adversely affected trade in the country adding that substandard goods have closed down some companies in the country.
He said this at an event organized by the organization tagged: “Seamless Importation – Building Stakeholders’ Synergy and Fostering Trade Without Compromising Standard,” a forum for interaction between SON and stakeholders.
In his words, “substandard products posed a great threat to the health of Nigerians and undermine the economy of the country and that it is so massive that it will take a long time and a patriotic zeal to checkmate”
Odumodu further stated that maritime stakeholders have a lot to do in checkmating the influx of substandard products in the country, adding, “the role of maritime sector is very critical in this economy, you make things happen, you make Nigeria economy speak”.
He stated that the major assessment or evaluation of effectiveness of his position as the DG of SON was the level of substandard products in Nigeria and how the products enter into the country as he also said that over 95% of substandard products were coming from outside the country, and they are coming through seaport, airport and land borders.
He however encouraged customs, maritime workers, and clearing agents to do more by exposing all those involved in bringing substandard goods in the country.
The DG also said that they had an internationally accredited laboratory to test products especially those meant for exports that will help in checkmating the imported goods also.
Also speaking at the event, the national chairman of association of Nigerian licensed custom agents (ANLCA) Prince Olayiwola Shittu asked the other stakeholders to spend more time on educating themselves in ICT and to key into the transformation processes that is going on in SON in order to deliver their services professionally and in good time.
According to him, “most government agencies are now going online as information is being given without leaving the confines of office”. He therefore encourages SON to do more than what they have done already, by creating a help desk on –line, so that people will ask questions and the answer in 1 or 2 hours.
