The Chief Operating Officer of MicCom Cables and Wires, Mrs Bukola Adubi, has commended the recent destruction of substandard goods, which included cables and wires, by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as the agency intensifies its campaign to rid the country of substandard products.
Destroyed by the Federal agency included substandard electric cables, engine oil, LPG cylinders, stuffed tyres, substandard, and unapproved cigarettes, as well as substandard low-grade roofing sheets, amongst others.
Adubi who is also the President of the Cable Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CAMAN) gave the commendation when she visited SON’s warehouse facility in Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos where the items were set to be destroyed.
“My visit here today has been eye opening to say the least. We have been having several conversations with SON about how to stop this menace. Because for the lot of us in CAMAN, we are legacy companies; we are companies that have been in the system for decades. MicCom for instance is 44 years and counting,” Adubi said.
Some unscrupulous importers bring in substandard products and label them with the names of local manufacturers, thereby misrepresenting them. This illegal act, according to her, has led to some local manufacturers being blacklisted by companies, even though the products originally did not come from their factories.
“This is affecting our legacies, it is affecting our brands, it is affecting our bottom line. So coming here to see what SON is doing is very, very, very heartwarming. I am very happy,” she stated.
The MicCom boss pledged to support the agency in whatever way she could to improve SON’s level of efficiency and effectiveness.
The Director General/Chief Executive of SON, Mallam Farouk A. Salim called on all Nigerians to expose those in the business of products adulteration for the common good and safety of the nation and its people.
He solicited for stakeholders’ support in area of provision of Logistics (operational vehicles, equipments among others) to support the agency’s intelligence, surveillance and monitoring activities.
“All purveyors of substandard and life-endangering products should be regarded as enemies of the people of Nigeria and classified like bandits, terrorists, armed robbers and kidnappers as the negative effects of their activities are all but same,” Salim said
“We must all contribute to the growth of the Nation’s economy by promoting quality goods and services and discouraging the production, importation and distribution of substandard and life-threatening products in our Country. Nigeria must not be a dumping ground for low quality and injurious products.
“We must protect our common heritage by patronising quality and duly certified locally made products as first choice, and endeavour to take necessary action against substandard, fake, illicit and life-endangering products.”
