SON to reduce 75 per cent of substandard product importation by 2019

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria says it will reduce the importation of substandard products by 75 per cent by 2019, if permitted to stay in the ports.

Mr Obiora Manafa, SON’s Director of Inspection and Compliance Directorate, made this known in an interview in Lagos on Friday.

The director, who spoke against the backdrop of enforcement, told NAN that SON’s invitation to partake in cargo examination at the port was stalling its operations.

“It is not in our interest and that of the nation for sister operatives resident at the ports to be the one to invite us to come and do our work.

“We ought to be on the ground and follow cargo documentation and releasing of same in order to get it right; as most times before we are called upon for examination a lot of infractions have been committed.

“With our stay in the port, it is possible for us to meet our set target of a reduction of the influx of substandard goods into the country,’’ Manafa said.

According to him, 85 per cent of the goods in the market entered through the ports and, therefore, to curb such menace and nip it in the bud, the place to be is at the port for SON.

He said that most of the hindrances the agency was faced with included under-declaration, fake documentation and forgery of SON papers to outsmart the officers.

Agencies allowed representation at the ports are, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Other agencies are Nigerian Immigration Service, Port Health and Department of State Security.

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