Over 3,000 Matched against sub standard products with SON in Onitsha as DG identifies reasons for Fire outbreaks, and buildings

                         

Over 3,000 people comprising of officials of the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) led by its Director General , Dr Joseph Ikem Odumodu and traders at Onitsha market numbering marched through major streets in Onitsha to create awareness on the need to shun substandard products in Nigeria.

The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) further said that incessant cases of fire outbreak, collapsed buildings, road accidents and other mishaps are caused by the use of substandard products in Nigeria.

 The traders were drawn from various markets in Onitsha including; New tyre, electronics, electrical, building materials and others, all around Onitsha even as they took time to ask pertinent questions relating to their trade, and also registration of their products at the business session.

Some of the traders expressed worries that government was supporting foreign business men to outdo them in business by giving concession and tax rebate to them, while local investors are clamped down on.

Dr Odumodu who spoke in Onitsha yesterday while interacting with traders at Sharon House in a session tagged 5,000 man March against substandard products with theme; save Nigeria, shun substandard products, commended the turn out for the march against substandard products.

Odumodu said that the organization has the mandate to save Nigeria from products that have harmful effects by ensuring that the products people take protect them and meet the performance needs.

The DG who was recently reappointed for a second term in office by President Goodluck Jonathan said he will be happy to retire to his home town in Amawbia, near Awka if he is able to meet these goals by the end of his second term in office.

He gave instances of people who make a kill selling fake and substandard products but never get to use them when they have the need to, rather they go to other neighbiours who they know sell the real product to patronize them.

He said : “We must save Nigeria by shunning substandard product. We all have contributed to the problems we have about substandard products. The producers, the distributors, retailers and consumers have a hand in these problems.

“When making purchases, there are things you must look out for before paying for them; always look out for the expiry date, address of manufacturers and the manual and even the warranty. We know that some of you traders do not even know the products you buy is substandard, but we will teach you. Our job is to ensure that the products that are shipped to other parts of the world are of the same standard as those imported to Nigeria.” Odumodu said.

Speaking, a trader dealing on rods, Prince Anyikwa Ike said, “When we travel abroad to buy our wares, we see the same people who pride themselves here as foreign investors struggling to buy goods in the same places we do, and when they get back here, they are given rebate in tax and even encouraged by the government.

“But the truth is that these people are putting we the citizens out of business. They come here and take away our resources to develop their country and we give them respect and say they are investors. They are the people killing our economy, and government must do well to look into these.”