SON meets stakeholders on fake, sub-standard and unbranded products
The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Director General (DG), Barrister, Osita Aboloma in strategic meetings with stakeholders in respect of influx of the fake, unbranded and sub-standard products in our markets
The Director, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Osita Aboloma, at a strategic meeting was held recently at its Corporate Office, Lekki, Lagos, said that the game of SON operations has changed promising to be firm in their operations.
Aboloma noted that the interactive collaboration among the key stakeholders was adopted to get rid of fake, unbranded and substandard products in our markets, adding that SON alone cannot do it.
The DG who called for the cooperation of all stakeholders also pledged to works together to provide confidence among the users of the products through assurance quality and awareness among others.
The DG said, “I want you people to be of quality vanguard in your areas of operations and as self regulatory practices.”
He pointed out that the Electrical Dealers Association of Nigeria’s [EDAN] collaboration has been so wonderful and that the Chairman of the EDAN, Engineer Paul Okenwa, has even assured SON of more collaboration to come even as he urged the International Market Association of Electronics (IMAE) to do that as well.
The first strategic meetings were with International Market Association of Electronics (IMAE) section of Alaba International Market, Lagos.
At the meeting, the Executive Chairman of the Association, Evangelist Paulinus Ugochukwu said they would continue to collaborate with SON to create more awareness about fake, unbranded and substandard products in our markets.
Evangelist Ugochukwu who is also the Managing Director of Sound Prince (SP) International Company Limited; said Alaba International Market is the largest electronic market in Africa.
“We must work with SON to sanitized the Alaba market and bring it to international status that in turned bring more improvement on the infrastructural development in the market,” he promised.
Also speaking during the meeting was the former Executive Chairman of the Association, IMAE, Chief Uche Ubochi; who appealed to the SON DG to establish Desk in the electronic section of the market which will solve the fake, unbranded and substandard products in the market.
He further stated that major dealers in the market have branded products they sell adding that the person selling branded products are traceable. “We know ourselves in the market”, he added.
In response, Public Relation Officer of the IMAE, Mr Maduabuchukwu Adiukwu said “We have a by-law in the market that binds us. So, if a seller sells a product to anybody (buyer) and the person (buyer) finds out that the product is faulty, within 48 hours the person (buyer) should inform the seller about it, even if the person (buyer) is outside Lagos. When the person (buyer) returns it, you, the seller will have to fix it.
“Where you, the seller fail to do so, our unions mandate you, the seller to repair the item or change it for the customer. And if you (seller) refuse, we as an Association will lock up the seller shop until he (seller) comply. This is to avoid giving the market a bad name because we get customers not just from Nigeria but also from Cotonou, Benin Republic and Ghana who buy from us to resell in their various countries.
“This is the biggest electronics/electrical items market in the whole of West Africa. Alaba International Market is still basking in the excitement of its 40th anniversary celebration.
He also said his department would concentrate on image building of the market to return it to its lost glory.
“Alaba use to be a market to reckon with but today, most people sees our market as a market where substandard products are sold and this is very bad assumption about the market where most reputable brands like Genesis, Polystar etc emanate from Alaba. So, we need to change that thinking”, he explained
During the meeting, both SON and the IMAE agreed to work together to eradicate Substandard, unbranded and fake products etc in Alaba market in order to improve the living standard of Nigerians who use the products.
While fielding Journalists questions at the event, SON DG said going forward, “we will give them the benefit of doubt, that they will do the right thing. But, basically, coming under an association does not exonerate people from a deliberate attempt to reduce the quality of the products that are being sold to Nigerian consumers. We will continue to hold them individually and collectively liable for nonconformity to our standards” he added.
On automation, the DG disclosed that, “our automation is flawless, it reduces the turnaround time for clearing. By the way, I will let you know this, we have automation in respect to products registration, and we also have automation in respect to pre-shipment document, that’s SONCAP.”
The DG further explained, “this is what you do first. You get our documents certifications before you ship goods to Nigeria. It’s not a clearing documents per say. So, when somebody deliberately misinformed the public that he incurred demurrages because of SONCAP, that amount to false claim because you cannot ship in your goods into Nigeria without some form of qualifying certifications. It makes our job easier without compromising the quality of goods that comes into Nigeria.
The second strategic meeting was that with the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), which follows shortly after IMAE.
The National, President of ANLCA, Iju Tony Nwabunike, expressed happiness and commended SON for setting high standard.
According to him, “we make bold to say that you (SON) have set the pace for your successors to emulate and excel. Your immediate predecessor has done a good job which you build upon tremendously by raising the organization relevance through visible innovation in national consciousness.
He said the maritime industry under the Buhari administration is in good hands and hopes are high because the high degree of commitment by those driving the process is not in doubt.
Mr Nwabunike noted “our meeting with you (SON) today strengthens ANLCA’s constitutional position to contribute to national growth and economic development. We seek to draw federal government attention through your very important office to some areas of interest of our members, the entire maritime industry and the country at large.
“The ANLCA National President said we demand continuous compliance orientation, training and seminars of our members to help the organization goals and objectives. We look forward to continually support the government through all lawful means within our capacity,” he added.
Source: AmehNews
