SON Destroys N30m Sub-standard Goods
Industry
By Crusoe Osagie
Goods worth over N30 million have been torched by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in Lagos for not meeting the minimum required standard for goods in their category.
The destroyed goods, which include Chemmer super glue, Epoxy super glue, Sonrise cables, Powerise cable, machetes, AG fuel filter, electrical cord reel, 555 stainless table/tea spoons and Maxam tooth paste, fell under the category of goods to be destroyed by SON because they were not rectifiable.
The Director General of the organisation, Dr John Ndanusa Akanya, who addressed newsmen before the substadard products were burnt, explained that destruction of goods was not their objective but that it had to be done as a last resort to products whose standard and quality were so low that they could not be rectified.
Analysing the quantity of the products that were destroyed, Akanya said they included 150 cartons of the two varieties of glue mentioned above, four 20 feet containers of cables, 300 cartons of machetes, 30 cartons of fuel filters, 50 cartons of electric cord reel, 50 cartons of 555 stainless steel spoons and 50 cartons of Maxam tooth paste.
Akanya explained that the chemmer and epoxy super glues were seized during a market raid at ASPAMDA International market Ojo, Lagos.
According to him, the adhesive property of the glues was poor and not effective during use and their dealers were sanctioned and released with a final warning.
He said the Sonrise and Powerise cables were imported by Chief Donatus Umeozooreke and Messrs Eugbros Nig Limited respectively through Seme border and Kirikiri lighter terminal.
"Test reports on the brands revealed that they do not have country of origin, failed performance parameters, including conductor and insulation resistance, conductor diameter and voltage capabilities. They overheat and melt easily when subjected to normal electric current and as such are potential sources of fire outbreak and electrocution," he said.
Pointing out that the matches, table- and tea-spoons were seized from dealers at Apongbon and Falomo bridges, he said: "The matches failed in chemical composition required by the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS 242:1988) for carbon, manganese, phosphorus and sulphur. The hardness and thickness of the blades, bend, flexibility, dimensional and preservatives properties fall short of the standard specification," he said.
He said that the remnants of the faked AG air filter imported by Messrs Hydrotrans Nigeria Limited which was initially sold to Nigerians have been recalled and destroyed.
"The filters failed performance test and are worthless to engines. It is time those in the habit of wasting our foreign resources on the importation of substandard spare-parts stopped. SON will sanction and prosecute importers who perpetrate and perpetuate the act of short changing consumer," he said.
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