Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON); Dr. Joseph Odumodu said that the agency destroyed goods worth N10 billion in the last four years, even as he urged freight forwarding associations to collaborate with the agency to rid the country of sub-standard and fake goods.
Odumodu disclosed this yesterday during his official visit to the Headquarters of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) in Lagos.
He said that the items were destroyed from 2011 to date.
Acknowledging that SON is not an expert in maritime affairs, he said this necessitated his call for collaboration with relevant maritime group like NAGAFF with a view to synergising to put a stop to influx of substandard item into the country.
He noted that the government has mandated the agency to reduce the influx of substandard and fake goods to less than 15%, adding that with the support of the freight forwarding associations it will be achievable.
He told the freight forwarders that, "In the next few years we will reduce sub-standard product to 15 per cent.
"Now we are going through period of change. President Muhammadu Buhari was elected because of honesty and integrity.
"I am pleading with you all to change from all ramifications because many people are dying day by day of cancer as a result of substandard goods coming into the country," he said.
He compelled freight forwarders to be part of the positive change, adding that they should all comply with the e-Product Registration and e-Provision Clearance Certificate platform.
Odumudu said "if people continue to do the wrong thing by failing to comply, then the organisation would continue in stopping containers on the road".
“You should all be part of the positive change by complying with the e-Product Registration and e-Provision Clearance Certificate platform,’’ Odumodu warned.
He commended the Nigeria Customs Service for supporting the organisation.
In his remarks, Founder of NAGAFF Chief Boniface Aniebonam urged freight forwarders and clearing agents to collaborate with SON to reduce substandard products.
He said that seized containers should be checked and conveyed to SON’s base by the officials of the organisation instead of at check points.
“Enlightenment platforms and strategic processes can help in solving all the problems encountered during cargo importation as well as cargo clearance," Aniebonam said.
He stressed the need for continued campaign to remind agents on the actual time for moving out
On his part, the National Deputy President of NAGAFF, Mr Oluwole Adeyemi, said that trade could not be facilitated under a rigid and uncoordinated process and procedures.
Adeyemi said that there was need for implication, harmonisation and coordinating of activities to enable the organisation to blend with the era of e-commerce trade facilitation.
He commended the organisation on the e-Product Registration and e-Provision Clearance Certificate platform.
"We wish to advice that SON management to go further by creating a forum where our National officers and other members will be given proper training and sensitisation programme.
"This sensitisation will help our members in-depth understanding of the scheme, he said.
“We wish to advise SON management to go further by creating a forum where our national officers and other members will be given proper training and sensitisation programme.
“This sensitisation will help our members in depth understanding of the scheme," he added.
Also in attendance, President of National Council for Managing Director Licensed Custom Agent (NCMDLCA), Festus Ejiofor said the association would continue to support SON on its operations.
Ejiofor said NCMDLCA would comply with SON to ensure that containers were no longer stopped on the road.
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