Consumer Safety: SON tackles producers, importers of substandard and harmful products in Borno

*Engr. Muhammed Sani Abubakar, Coordinator of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, in Borno State, North-East region, warns defaulters to desist from producing or importing substandard products because of the harmful effects on consumers and the entire economy

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In continuation of its efforts at combating the proliferation of substandard and harmful products across the state, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says Enforcement Unit officers have cracked down on defaulters in markets, in Borno State, North-East region of the country.

ConsumerConnect learnt Engr. Muhammed Sani Abubakar, SON Coordinator, in Borno State, who stated this Monday, July 1, 2024, in Maiduguri, the state capital, warned defaulters to desist from producing or importing substandard products, citing the harmful effects on consumers and the economy.

The West African country’s standards regulatory agency noted it is collaborating with security services, civil defence corps, Customs, and other regulatory agencies to stop the influx of substandard products from neighboring countries.

Engr. Abubakar stated: “We have a synergy with other agencies and takes immediate action when discovering non-compliant products.

“SON has been working tirelessly to ensure manufacturer compliance, supervise products, and conduct sensitisation campaigns.”

The Borno State Coordinator of SON further explained that despite the agency’s increased efforts at combating the malaise, substandard products, especially food and building materials have remained a significant challenge in the Northern state.

Suggesting a practical measure in addressing the problem of substandard products, Abubakar disclosed the SON would collaborate with other agencies to determine product standards, and introduce punitive measures for defaulters, including fines, product seizures, and other penalties.

The SON chief urged consumers to report any substandard products, just as the agency has provided guidance to manufacturers on producing qualitative products for Nigerian consumers.

According to him, compliant products receive certification from SON, and the regulatory agency has a manual for producing standard products.

He restated agency’s commitment to ensuring that products in markets in Borno State meet the required standards.

“The agency’s efforts have yielded positive results, with several substandard products seized and destroyed. SON remains committed to its mission of protecting consumers and promoting economic growth.

“We are calling on consumers to support our efforts by reporting substandard products and demanding quality products from manufacturers,” Abubakar said.

He added: “By working together, we believe that the prevalence of substandard products in Borno markets can be significantly reduced.

“Our crackdown on substandard products in Borno demonstrates our dedication to ensuring product standardisation in the state.

“With our efforts and consumer support, Borno can look forward to a safer and healthier market.”