“Why SON should be allowed to operate at seaports”

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), needs approval of the Federal government to return to the nation’s seaports as a way of checking the influx of sub-standard products into the country.

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) made the appeal, it stated that SON requires strong and full federal government’s backing, financially or otherwise, in order to enable the agency perform its task satisfactorily.

The President, MAN Engr. Mansur Ahmed, who made the comments when the SON Director General, Mallam Farouk Salim, visited the agency  in Lagos said the Organisation needs to be assisted especially if the nation would make a headway in economic diversification and industrialization.

He maintained that the presence of SON at the seaports would make its work more efficient and effective rather than the present arrangement where they only chase containers in the highways and markets.

‘‘we have made strong representations to the relevant ministries and the agencies and we are making steady progress to ensure that there would be smooth operations at the ports when SON is returned.

“I believe that when they do that, the whole system will be harmonised so as not to generate another congestion at the ports. That was what led to the problem, but I believe that with the use of technology, better system would be put in place so that SON would be linked with other agencies to have one-stop shop,” Ahmed stated.

There has become urgent need for SON and MAN to synergize to address the circulation of fake and substandard goods, and come up with a user-friendly product authentication mark to protect genuine manufacturers across the country.

During the interactive session with council members of MAN, the SON DG said priority of the standards body was to protect local and genuine manufacturers, noting that the agency has been working relentlessly to find a user-friendly and cost effective way of introducing product marks.

Salim said, Our priority is to protect our local industries because these industries have faith and confidence in the Nigerian economy, hence, we need to protect their investment. I want to assure you that I am part of you and we support you 100 per cent.

We are trying to find a more user-friendly way of introducing product marks. I feel that we can work together for manufacturers to voluntarily carry product marks while people importing would go through the scheme. That way, if there is an additional cost, it would be on those importing into the country.

“The advantage is that if the product authentication mark succeeds, local manufacturers would join voluntarily because they have seen the value in it while on the other hand, if we implement it, we will make sure that all imported products go through a certain level of scrutiny.

“I am appealing to the association for us to work together and find authentic companies, authentic marker to implement in such a way that it will not affect local manufacturers,” Salim clarified.

Salim maintained that for effective and efficient output, the agency needs its presence in the ports.

“There is no way we can track containers if we are not at the ports, we need the opportunity to get free access to goods within and outside the ports. We need the strength of the community to back our legal demands to do our job. We are also reinvigorating our operations,” he noted.

Further speaking, the MAN president, Ahmed, said his agency and SON have over the years enjoyed very good and honest relationships which it formalised in 2013 after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

The MoU he said forms the basis of the collaboration that was renewed in 2019 aimed at resolving issues through discussions, dialogues and cooperation. . “We have collaborated and helped to grow the manufacturing sector and indeed, improve the operating environment and the investment climate.

“We have recently observed the proliferation of issuance of MANCAP to new and unverified companies leading to the influx of substandard goods in the market. There are also claims that there have been inadequate testing laboratories leading to additional cost of members that will have to do their test elsewhere.

We want to appeal to you on ways on which some of these challenges would be resolved significantly,” he said.
He advocated for an increase in the levies, charges and penalties imposed on unscrupulous dealers in substandard goods.

“We are asking that you raise the bar for minimum penalty on those importing and distributing fake and substandard products.

It has become pertinent to restate that the business of cleaning Nigerian environment of fake, sub-standard and unwholesome products needs collaborative efforts, with all stakeholders working with SON, stated Salim.