The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says it has destroyed N800 million worth of substandard goods in the country from November 2020 to March 2021.
The Director General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim disclosed this on Monday in Enugu during the special day of the organisation at the ongoing Enugu International Trade Fair.
Salim said that the measure was part of efforts by the organisation to discourage dumping of substandard products in the country.
According to him, SON’s mandate includes the rectification of redeemable substandard products apprehended by the organisation and destruction of life-threatening ones.
“Other approaches that SON has adopted for a rapid economic growth of the country is to discourage dumping of substandard products in our country.
“This has led to the very important role SON is playing in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) Agreement in collaboration with other stakeholders,” he said.
Salim said that the automation of many of the organisation’s services were strategic initiatives for efficient service delivery and certification of Made-in-Nigeria products.
He said that the Enugu International Trade Fair offered a great opportunity to reach out to Nigerians and foreign manufacturers, importers, exporters, dealers and service providers with the activities of SON.
Also, the Southeast Regional Coordinator of SON, Mrs Nwaoma Olujie described the organisation as the heartbeat of Nigeria.
Olujie said that the organisation was in a pole position to make the country play a critical role in the ACFTA, adding that only standard would give Nigerian products access to the continental market.
“Our products must be of standard and we need the rest of Africa to know that Nigeria is championing their course through standard products.
“We need to start exporting our products as that is the only way of diversifying our economy,” Olujie said.
Earlier, the President. Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Mr Emeka Nwandu described the participation of SON in the fair as strategic.
Nwandu said that it was necessary that Nigerian products and others brought into the country met acceptable international standards.
He commended the organisation for participating in the 2021 edition of the trade fair, adding that the contributions of SON toward accelerating industrial growth in Nigeria was appreciated.
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