The coming on board of Mr. Farouk Salim as the Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in September 2020 has brought about a turning point in the war against substandard products in the country, FELIX KHANOBA writes.
Nigeria, like many other countries across the globe, has not been spared of substandard products being pushed into its markets by companies, exporters and other individuals that can sometime perfectly fit in as merchants of death.
Yes, Nigeria has lost hundreds of people to road accidents caused either by substandard or expired tyres that find their way into the markets. Fake electric products have also sent many to their untimely graves no thanks to manufacturers that deliberately breach stipulated standards, among other unwholesome practices.
Despite the long existence of SON-whose mandate cuts across preparation of Standards relating to products, certification of products, among others, the issue of large quantities of substandard products in almost every Nigeria’s streets and markets defied several concerted efforts put in place by the Organisation until recently that Salim held sway as Director General.
In fact, as of 2016, it was estimated that about 80 per cent of the products sold in Nigeria were counterfeits or sub-standard .
But the story greatly witnessed a big positive change following the appointment of Mr. Farouk A. Salim as DG of SON in 2020.
Salim, who is known for his unwavering commitment and passion in delivering any assignment that will ensure a better society, on assumption of office rolled out reforms and initiated a robust crackdown on fake products across the country.
The crackdown, which has seen highly motivated and no-nonsense SON officials from ports to warehouses and from manufacturing sites to warehouses/markets, has seen to drastic reduction of the bad items in the country.
One of the smartest steps deployed to achieve the uncommon feat was robust engagements with related government agencies that have seen to the ‘temporary’ return of SON to the ports after five years of absence.
The singular move has been a game changer in the war against substandard products as SON working harmoniously with other agencies like Customs and Nigeria Ports Authority, can now easily track large numbers of fake products from point of entry instead of running after them in several markets across the country.
Before the return to the ports, Salim’s transparent and uncompromising style in ensuring the mandate of the Organisation is fully achieved forced many peddlers of sub-standard products abandoning their businesses with many facing the wraith of the law.
Seizures of sub-standard products have also increased tremendously and responses from stakeholders and market associations indicate that SON is winning the war against substandard goods.
Just few months after assuming office, SON confiscated over N600million worth of stuffed substandard tyres in a warehouse in Ogun State. Two containers of stuffed imported, used tyres were also seized in Port Harcourt.
To send a serious message to dealers of fake sub-standard products, the SON boss ordered the prosecution of persons involved in standards infractions relating to sub-standard lubricants, electric cables, forgery of SON clearing documents, logos, and other breaches.
The mopping up of sub-standard LPG cylinders in Suleja, Niger State, seizure of adulterated engine oil in Kano and Lagos States; destruction of sub-standard products in Katsina State as well as destruction of expired LPG cylinders from different parts of Anambra State, has endeared Salim to to the people as a man who will never allow the selfish interest of unscrupulous business people to have their way.
While the agency continues to confiscate unwholesome products on a regular basis, Salim, who has not hidden his passion to ensure only certified products that guarantee value for money find their way to the market as against those that endanger life and economic well being of the people.
The Salim-led SON has not also shy away from improving its facilities aimed at ensuring stipulated standards are not compromised, hence, the capacity of the National Metrology Institute was enhanced with acquisition of new equipment for calibration activities in diverse areas of measurement like flow and volume.
The organisation has also embarked on aggressive marketing of its key service such as: Product Certification, Internationally Accredited Laboratory Services, Internationally Recognised Management Systems Training Services; Internationally Accredited Management Systems Certification Services, among others
Many stakeholders believe that with the uncommon passion brought to bear by Salim in the affairs of SON, Nigeria is finally set to achieve victory in the perennial war against fake products.
