The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has announced a comprehensive review of its existing Act in a bid to ensure that those dealing in hazardous materials face jail time instead of fines.
Mallam Farouk Salim, the Director General of SON, made this declaration during a press briefing held in Lagos on Thursday, where the organization also destroyed a considerable quantity of seized materials worth billions of Naira.
According to Salim, individuals involved in the distribution of these perilous goods are deemed economic saboteurs, as their activities pose a serious threat to both the industry and the well-being of consumers.
He noted that these practices result in financial losses for innocent buyers who unknowingly purchase these products.
Salim emphasized the necessity of legislative amendments in tackling this issue and revealed that SON had previously approached the National Assembly for such amendments, successfully securing their approval.
However, due to administrative delays, he informed that the law failed to receive presidential assent.
Consequently, Salim informed that the proposed amendments have been resubmitted to the National Assembly for concurrence.
He said It is expected that they will soon reach the President’s desk for approval, after which individuals caught dealing in life-threatening materials will face immediate imprisonment.
Furthermore, Salim highlighted that some of the seized products had already been subjected to court orders for destruction.
He pointed out that, in some cases, seemingly new tires were used to conceal other tires within, compromising their safety. Similarly, counterfeit motor oil lubricants intercepted in Calabar were disguised as popular products, causing damage to legitimate Nigerian lubricant manufacturers.He stated that this illegal copying of successful products poses a serious issue.
The SON boss further underlined that the cable industry in Nigeria is thriving, and they actively collaborate with industry associations to identify fake products. He added that the activities of counterfeiters have a detrimental impact on the national economy.
He explained that the policy on local content is designed to protect indigenous companies, ensuring that products are safe and of high quality.
He said “Cables, in particular, should be made of copper, but some fake products are either iron or copper-coated, posing a fire hazard when used in buildings.”
In terms of the monetary value involved, he said the seized products are estimated to be worth billions of naira.
Salim stated that SON is determined to continue seizing such products to discourage the illicit activities and protect consumers while reassuring the public that the seized items are securely stored in a monitored facility with round-the-clock security provided by the police and civil defense.
