Substandard imports: SON seeks return to seaports

THE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has said that its absence at the nation’s seaports would make it difficult to monitor influx of substandard products into Nigeria.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum, in Lagos recently, with the theme, ‘Facilitating Trade Through SON Automated Services’, Director General of SON, Mr Osita Aboloma disclosed that there is need for the Federal Government to reinstate SON to the port just like other government agencies.

Aboloma who was represented by the Director, Inspectorate and Compliance Department SON, Engr Obiora Manafa assured the stakeholders that the agency’s automation process has since been completed, urging importers to always perfect their documentation and SONCAP (SON Conformity Assessment Program) before cargoes arrive Nigeria.

According to the SON DG, “This is important because for us at the enforcement unit of SON, it is very difficult for us to chase substandard products across the country as far as the product has left the ports.

“The product can be in Kano in the next one day, it can be in Port-Harcourt in the next two days, it can be in Enugu, it can be in Aba, it can be in Osogbo. So, you don’t know the direction the product will get to immediately it leaves the port.

“So, it is easier for us to get that substandard products at the port because the logistics requirements for you to chase the product, maybe the product has entered one big market for example Alaba, ASPAMDA or the big markets in Kano or Sokoto, it requires a lot for you to go and get them from that market.”