There are indications that the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) may have concluded plans to clamp down on errant marketers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), who import refurbished gas cylinders and parading them as new ones.
In a document released by the Director General of SON, a copy of which was obtained by Shipping Position Daily, most cylinders being sold as new in the market today are actually mre than 20 years old.
There are indications that the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) may have concluded plans to clamp down on errant marketers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), who import refurbished gas cylinders and parading them as new ones.
In a document released by the Director General of SON, a copy of which was obtained by Shipping Position Daily, most cylinders being sold as new in the market today are actually mre than 20 years old.
These cylinders, according to the SON boss, are being refurbished by errant marketers on importation to the country in order to make them look new, which in most cases, are to the detriment of consumers.
Odumodu disclosed that the agency is however introducing a policy that will ensure that LPG marketers become the owner of cylinders instead of consumers.
This, he said would require testing the standard of cylinders at the bottling plant when they are brought to the refilling stations. In this case, defective cylinders will be withdrawn by the marketer from the customer.
"We believe that in doing this, the marketer and dealer will bear the responsibility for the product and sanction on any reported cases of cylinder explosion thereafter”
“Majority of these importers are violating Nigerian standards on imported cylinders. The strategy we are adopting is how to stop these products from entering Nigeria”, he assured.
He disclosed that a new bill has been submitted at the National Assembly to review the penalty for suppliers of substandard and expired products. This, according to him, will ensure that indicted marketers and manufacturers bag jail term for infractions.
This will also give SON power to prosecute promoters of substandard and fake products at designated ports and power to seize substandard products.
“Nigeria is at the mercy of promoters of substandard products as a result of the current obsolete law which stipulates maximum punishment of N100,000 penalty,” he noted.
He added that the proposed policy will require marketers of gas cylinders to have different colours and codes to enable SON officials trace the source of any cylinder in case of explosion.
This, he said “will also enhance better control of LPG value chain including the gas, valves and other accessories.” The gas that goes into LPG is a mixture of propane and butane and one of them is highly flammable and Nigeria has been operating a 70:30 per cent butane, propane policy. Enough is enough. Cylinders will henceforth be owned by marketers licensed mainly by the Department of Petroleum Resources”.
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