Ime Akpan
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has promised manufacturers of fake and sub-standard lubricants a tough time saying it will blacklist and publish the names of importers and producers of such products.
The director general of the agency, Mr. Osita Aboloma who stated this at the opening of SON’s office in Nasarawa State also said the proposed action would serve as deterrent unscrupulous individuals to desist from trading in fake and substandard lubricants.
“The name and shame exercise would also help Nigerians to identify genuine lubricants in the market while also deriving value for hard- earned money spent on such products.
“SON classifies lubricants as life threatening and life endangering, the effect is far reaching and the nation cannot industrialize without quality lubricants,” he said.
He said the SON Act of 2015 empowers the agency to prosecute persons fake and adulterate established and successful brands to cheat Nigerian users.
“SON will not sit back and watch some unscrupulous people threaten the survival of the industry. We will not sit down and watch these people pull down the investments of genuine manufacturers or importers. As long as you are law abiding, we will be there to protect you,” said Aboloma.
He enjoined stakeholders in the lubricant sector to support the organisation in its quest to rid Nigeria of substandard products in general.
In addition, the director general urged them consult SON for the minimum quality requirements for all products as outlined in the Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS).
He said the new SON office is aimed at bringing standards close to the people, while also achieving efficient and effect service delivery of standards.
Aboloma also said the office would also go a long way to checkmating the influx of sub-standard goods into Nasarawa State.
And in Lagos, SON carried out a sensitisation programme on the dangers of sub-standard products, especially lubricants, car brakes and car batteries at the Aswani, Mechanic Village and its environs.
The state coordinator, Lagos Office II, Mrs. Oby Egbuziem who represented the director general said with the yuletide period comes the get-quick-rich syndrome in which people would peddle all sorts of products in the market for great financial reward.
Therefore, she said it was important to sensitise and enlighten everyone on the need to be vigilant and not fall prey to patronising substandard materials.
“The aim of the sensitization programme is to simplify the SON mandate and make our presence felt at the grass root level,” she said.
