Stiffer Penalties Await Dealers of Substandard Products — SON DG

By Linda Ike

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) said it is working with the National Assembly to amend its Act to mull stiffer penalties for defaulters of offences relating to standardization of products in Nigeria.

The Director General of SON, Farouk Salim disclosed this at the Stakeholders Conference of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria CICAN, in Abuja with the theme: “the Role Of Standardisation In Building Resilient Non-oil Sector” .

Representative by the Deputy Director in the organisation, Mrs Mariam Samson, said the Bill when passed into law will criminalize the production, manufacturing and distribution of substandard products that could endanger the lives of consumers in the country.

The Act will not only provide stiffer sanctions to individuals who import and deal with sub-standard products but also attract jail term after prosection .

The DG said that the Act is aimed to
strengthen the core mandate of the organisation against malpractices..

The mandates which include: encourage improved competitiveness of Nigerian goods at home and abroad by encouraging quality assurance practices”.

Salim also disclosed that the Organisatíon has almost completed the National Methodology Institute to facilitate trade and investment in the country.

According to him, the Institute will serve Nigeria and other West Africa countries in primary standards of measurement and accuracy, and carry out field calibration of measuring instrument in the industry

Speaking on the organization’s role so far on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria, Salim said SON has been working with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) to ensure efficient Service delivery through the Promotion of a transparent and Efficient Business Environment and Publication of processes and requirements, timelines and fees in SON premises and on its Website.

He said that the Organisation emerge tops in the PEBEC 2020/21 ranking in Ease of Doing Business amongst Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Nigeria.