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  • SON to Partner LG Councils in Benue State to Eliminate Fake and Substandard Products

    SON to Partner LG Councils in Benue State to Eliminate Fake and Substandard Products

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    In its determination to eliminate fake and substandard products in Benue State, the Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON, is to partner with local government councils across the state.

    Leader of the team, Mr Gabriel Aba during a courtesy visit to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Kenneth Achabo explained that the visit was to seek partnership with the Bureau to ensure that the state is rid of all fake and substandard products.

    According to Mr Aba, the partnership is to also enure certification of Small and Medium- scale Enterprises and to encourage them in rice agricultural value chain for the West African Markets, which is already enjoying patronages across the country.

    Responding, the Special Adviser, Mr Achabo expressed willingness to of the Bureau to partner SON to ensure standardization of the products across the 23 Local Governments.

    The Special Adviser who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau, Mr Ode Ochele, noted that the Bureau is aware of the mandate of the organization, which is to rid the Nigerian markets, shops and stores of fake and substandard products.

    He contended that the Bureau is prepared to support SON in its campaign on substandard products to ensure that people have value for the products they purchase, stressing that this would boost the economic status of the state.

  • Reps blow hot, vows to probe NNPC, SON, others on bad fuel importation

    Reps blow hot, vows to probe NNPC, SON, others on bad fuel importation

    Following the havoc caused by the adulterated fuel in circulation to vehicles and other machines in Nigeria and its attendant economic challenges, the House of Representatives has vowed to investigate the matter, saying that heads will roll.

    To this end, the House through a motion by the Chief Whip, Hon. Mohammed Mongunu at Thursday plenary directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC to immediately suspend the four companies said to be involved in the purchasing and supplying of the bad fuel.

    It also asked NNPC to submit the deeds of purchase to the parliament for scrutiny.

    The House also mandated its Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) to ascertain the details of purchases of petroleum products made from January till date to ascertain whether they met with the international standards.

    The Committee will also investigate the roles played by the NNPC limited, Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON, Navy and all other regulatory agencies in the petroleum sector in the supply of the deadly product.

  • SON certifies SFH for meeting quality demands

    SON certifies SFH for meeting quality demands

    Amadin Idahosa

    The Society for Family Health, (SFH) has been certified by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for its conformance to the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS).

    The ISO 9001:2015 is an international standard dedicated to QMS. It outlines a framework for improving quality for any organisation looking to efficiently provide customer-centric products and services.

    Speaking during the certification ceremony on Wednesday, SFH Managing Director, Omokhudu Idogho, said the certification is a worthy confirmation of the meticulous work that the organisation have put into quality assurance over the years.

    Mr Idogho said the organization have worked hard to gain the confidence of its communities and customers by remaining steadfast and uncompromising in the quality of its service delivery.

    “For about three years, SFH liaised with the SON concerning attaining the ISO 90001: 2015 certificate for not just the warehouse, but the organisation as a whole,” he said.

    “After a series of pre-qualification engagements, the stage one audit of SFH facilities by SON took place in August 2020, at the Head Office in Abuja.”

    He noted that the Stage two audit took place in Abuja and at the warehouse in Otta Ogun State, in October 2020.

    Idogho said these audits assessed SFH’s Quality Management Systems and its conformance to the ISO 9001:2015 Standard.

    “This is another pioneering achievement not just for us but a further affirmation of our deep and unshaken commitment to provide highest standard of services to the people.”

    SFH is a leading Nigerian non-governmental organisation (NGO) working in partnership with communities, government, donors and the private sector for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and social justice for all Nigerians.

    It was founded in 1985 by three eminent Nigerians, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, Dahiru Walk and Ifeyinwa Nzeako.

    In his remarks, Director Corporate Affairs & SON Consults, Justin Nickaf said SFH earned the certification in recognition of its conformity to internationally acceptable standard requirements.

    “This certification will improve confidence in SFH, knowing their system and processes are certified to the required standard,” Richard Adewunmi, Deputy Director in management system certification of SON said.

    Mr. Adewunmi said stakeholders will be more comfortable dealing with the organisation henceforth.

  • Tambuwal Lays Foundation For The Construction Of SON Prototype Sokoto State Office And Laboratory Complex

    Tambuwal Lays Foundation For The Construction Of SON Prototype Sokoto State Office And Laboratory Complex

    By Muhammad Goronyo, Sokoto


    “We are here this afternoon to complement the effort of Standard Organization of Nigeria for making it possible to establish a laboratory head office in Sokoto, we the good people of Sokoto state therefore commend President Buhari for the project here”.

    Governor Tambuwal made this known while laying the foundation block for the construction of Prototype Sokoto State Office And Laboratory Complex along Kasarawa road, Sokoto.

    He said this can go a long in promoting both small scale and industrial marketing especially in this transitional period.
    Earlier, the Director-general of the organization, Mr. Faruk Salim thanked the Governor for the plot of land, participation for stone laying foundation and the promise to add more land so as to have enough spaces to conduct their activities.

  • Katsina Govt Signs MOU With SON To Develop MSMEs

    Katsina Govt Signs MOU With SON To Develop MSMEs

    Katsina State Government has revealed its effort towards achieving success in the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the state.

    Some of these efforts include among others; identification of priority products, capacity building to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises as well as the provision of land to the Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON for the construction of office and laboratory.

    The State Governor, Aminu Masari, through his Deputy, Mannir Yakubu made the revelation on Monday after he signed a Memorandum of understanding with the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) led by the Director-General of the organization, Malam Faruq Sulaiman.

    According to Yakubu, the signing of the MOU which was held in his office at the Katsina Government House followed a visit by the Katsina state delegation under the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Council to the SON Headquarters in Abuja.

    He explained that part of the requests forwarded to the Standard Organization of Nigeria by the state government includes the establishment of Certification Centre and sensitization to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises on how to make their products and services up to standard.

    In his response, the Director-General of the Standard Organization of Nigeria, Mallam Faruq Sulaiman, explained that the MOU was out to facilitate training and create awareness programs aimed at building capacity in the area of standards development, application, quality assurance, and conformity assessment as enshrined in Standard Organization’s mandate.

    Shortly after the state deputy governor, Mannir Yakubu signed the MOU on behalf of the Katsina State Government, and the SON Director-General, Malam Faruq Sulaiman signed on behalf of his organization an offer for the piece of land was presented to the Standard Organization of Nigeria by the state government.

  • SON certifies 21 manufacturers in FCT

    SON certifies 21 manufacturers in FCT

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) ) has certified 13 manufacturers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for maintaining consistency in the quality of their products.

    SON FCT Coordinator, Mr Gambo Dimka, said this at the organisation’s “Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) certificate presentation on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Dimka congratulated the manufacturers for embracing standards in their products and for maintaining quality infrastructure in the face of COVID-19 pandemic.

    According to him, they have displayed consistency in the quality of goods produced overtime to merit the certificates.

    Dimka said that SON was happy to celebrate their feats.

    He said that the programme was to ensure that all manufactured products conformed to standards prior to sales in the market or exportation.

    Dimka said that it was also aimed at protecting genuine manufacturers against unhealthy practices such as production of substandard products, faking, counterfeiting as well as unfair competition in trade.

    He said that this would provide consumers with confidence that products manufactured in the country were fit and safe for the intended use.

    “Products that are qualified under the scheme are issued with MANCAP certificate and National Industrial Standard (NIS) logo with unique identification mark.

    ” In many industrial sectors, the elaboration of standards and quality infrastructure is crucial for maintaining the quality of medical products and services,” he said.

    Dimka said that failure to observe rules for medical products could result in goods not making it to the market, adding that it could also have negative implication for human health and safety.

    He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had highlighted the importance of quality infrastructure and standards in ensuring availability of key medical devices in the country.

    Mr Odun Emasealu, Chairman, FCT chapter, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) called for the reduction of personal income tax for workers to 10 per cent to stimulate consumption and increase production in the country.

    Emasealu said importers should also be granted waivers on demurrage, while commending the effort of government in addressing the supply side of the manufacturing equation.

    He, however, said that it would not augur well if agencies of government were cooperating with manufacturers but no one to purchase the goods due to weak purchasing power.

    “The purchasing power of Nigerians especially workers has reduced, the other side of demand must be taken into consideration, there is need for credit schemes for buyers, this will improve the performance of the economy,” he said.

    Some of the manufacturers  who were certified were at the event included -Power Line Concrete Electric Pole Ltd, Accurate Paints, Zenah Table Water, Libra Venture Ltd, Sack foam and Dharul Hijrah Fertiliser.

    Mr Leonard Moses, Chairman, Accurate Chemical and Allied Industry Ltd commended SON for striving to ensure production of quality goods in the country through strict supervision.

    Mr Lottanna Osigne, representative, Power line Concrete Electric Pole Ltd, lauded SON for its supervisory role in maintaining standards in Nigeria.

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  • SON warns Nigerians against fairly used, stuff-in tyres

    SON warns Nigerians against fairly used, stuff-in tyres

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has warned Nigerians to avoid purchasing fairly used, expired and stuffed-in tyres to safeguard their lives and property.

    Mr Bola Fashina, Special Assistant to SON Director-General gave the warning on Monday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Fashina said that in an attempt to circumvent procedures or short-change the nation, some unscrupulous importers stuff up to Five or Six new tyres into One while importing them into the country.

    According to him, in the course of doing that they are endangering lives of Nigerians because the tyres are forced into one another, and the process of removing them destroys or makes the tyres substandard.

    He noted that importers indulged in such to maximise gains but put people’s lives at risk “because once they were removed and put in the market, consumers could hardly detect until they were put on the road.

    “The whole idea is to bring in five containers of tyres inside one container in order to pay duty for only one container instead of paying for six.

    “Those are the kinds of new tyres that you see on vehicles that explode. They are new, but you see them peeling off on motion, those are the kind of challenges we face.

    “The fact that they are new does not mean that they are good tyres because they have been stuffed and unstuffed,’’ he said.

    Fashina further said that tyres particularly, are one of those life threatening products that SON had an arrangement with the Nigeria Customs Service to be notified once being imported into the country.

    “Our attention is being called to it and once they are stuffed, there is no two ways about it, we seize them out-rightly and not only that we prosecute those responsible for that,’’ he added.

    On fairly used tyres, Fashina said that they were termed contraband and not imported or allowed to enter into the country.

    “We do not check used tyres at the point of entry because there is no standard to judge them and since they are contraband they are not supposed to come into the country.

    “A lot of times when you see used tyres in the country, they have either been brought in through smuggling or as wrong declaration to get into the country.

    “But beyond that, used tyres are also generated within Nigeria,’’ he added.

    Fashina, however, advised owners of vehicles not to drop their tyres to any vulcanisers, whenever they were due for disposal.

    “You should try and cut them otherwise they will recycle those tyres, clean them up and resell them as new tyres and they are dangerous to all, especially road users.

    “Tyres are classified as life endangering products and we have arrangement with the customs to assist us to ensure that they are checked by us,’’ he said.

    He added that because tyres were not being produced in Nigeria, it had a registration procedure to ensure traceability.

    He said that the procedure is aimed at actually registering importers of tyres in Nigeria to trace every brand that was imported to put a check and ensure required standard.

    According to Fashina, in Nigeria the life span of tyre is actually five years from the date of its manufacture, but the expiry date does not totally talk about its life span, rather the usage and storage are considered.

    Fashina warned that a new tyre should not be stored with chemical items like patrol or diesel in the same place because there will be a reaction which could affect the tyre’s quality.

    “It is not only the fact that the tyre is new, it has to be properly stored where it is being sold to retain its quality.

    “Expired tyre kills, Nigerians should look well before purchasing them. A new tyre whether used or unused expires after four years,’’ he warned.

    Furthermore, he warned consumers to check the tyre’s Date of Manufacture (DOT) before buying and add four years to the last two digits which represented the date of manufacturing to get the expiring date. (NAN)

  • Substandard Goods: Reps fault SON’s absence at points of entry

    Substandard Goods: Reps fault SON’s absence at points of entry

    The House of Representatives Committee on Industry has said that the decision to exit the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) from the nation’s ports would lead to the prevalence of fake and substandard goods in the country.
    The House Committee Chairman on Industry, Dolapo Badru, said this during an oversight visit to SON laboratory on Thursday in Ogba, Lagos.
    Badru said that the law mandating SON to be at the ports would be reviewed.
    According to him, customs officials are to collect duty so, they don’t have the requisite skills to ascertain the quality of goods imported.
    He expressed satisfaction with the level of work done by the standards body and restated the House commitment to return SON to the nation’s sea ports.
    “We will make sure that we do everything within our powers to make sure that SON gets back to the borders, most especially the ports and the airports, because we are concerned  with fake and substandard products, especially those products that take lives of innocent Nigerians.
    “We have seen lots of buildings collapse these days and most of these collapse are caused by substandard building materials most of which are imported.
    “We have also seen most buildings destroyed by fire because of imported substandard cables.
    “You do not expect the customs officer to carry out testing and analysis of cables because he was not trained for that,” he said.
    He stated that the House would invite the Director General of SON and the Ministry concerned to review the law that mandates SON to be at the ports.
    “There is an existing law and I wonder why the law is not complied with. We are going to get to the root of this matter and call for a hearing.
    “A lot of building collapse would have been averted, probably a lot of fire outbreaks would have been averted, a lot of deaths would have been averted.
    “These things were imported and nobody checks these goods when they come in because the agency that supposed to check the quality of these goods have been evicted from the ports,” he said.
    In his response, Director General of SON, Osita Aboloma, commended the House of Representatives for their support, stating that SON has the capacity to create possibilities.
    According to him, the agency has invested so much in human capacity development to be at par with its counterparts all over the world.
    “We appreciate your keen interest to sending us back to the ports while also creating the enabling environment for effective service delivery.
    “If we are well positioned, we will do more; the task to rid Nigeria of substandard products is a responsibility for everybody.
    “As members of the Committee on Industry, you are by extension standards ambassadors.
    “We implore you to advocate our cause wherever possible because we need to be positioned to enable us carry out our mandate effectively and safeguard the lives of Nigerians through standards,” he said. (NAN)
  • Senate Committee promises to return SON back to ports

    Senate Committee promises to return SON back to ports

    The Senate Committee on Industries has restated its commitment to return the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) officials to the nation’s seaports.
    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries, Sen. Bayo Osinowo, in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Lagos, spoke during the committee’s oversight visit to SON’s laboratory complex in Lagos.
    Osinowo, expressing displeasure at the absence of SON at the seaports, said that the situation was quite unfortunate.
    He said the law that established SON states that the standards organisation must be present at the nation’s ports to monitor the standards of products being produced and imported into the country.
    Osinowo said that in other climes, standard regulatory bodies were well represented at the ports to check the quality of goods before they would be allowed entrance into the markets.
    “To this effect, Nigeria cannot be left out of this trend. It is unfortunate that SON is not at the port.
    “When we set SON up, it was to monitor all the standards of the products produced and imported into the country.
    “But, when we found out that SON was not at the ports, we have decided to address this by looking into it and amend it, because there must be an office for SON at the ports for its officers to carry out their mandate effectively.
    “The legislature will look into the matter and make amend where it is necessary,” he said.
    Osinowo said the purpose of the oversight function was to assess the level of work done by SON after being appropriated public funds to carry out their mandate to improve lives through quality assurance.
    “The purpose of coming here is to see for ourselves and do appraisal of SON activities, especially on projects.
    “We came to see how you have utillised and managed the funds given to you, and I must confess that going by what we have seen so far, I am very impressed with the level of work done so far.
    “We are ready to support SON to ensure all the projects, especially  the laboratory must be completed soon,” he said.
    According to the committee chairman, if supported, SON will help to boost the manufacturing sector of the economy, while also eradicating poverty by creating job opportunities for the unemployed youths.
    Also, a member of the Committee, Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi, said the committee was not impressed that SON was not at the point of entry where these goods were being brought into the country.
    Nwaoboshi advised that the standards body must be equipped and given the opportunity to assess the goods before they enter the nation’s markets.
    “For example, there are cables coming into the country, branded as Made-in-Nigeria whereas they were manufactured elsewhere.
    “And, it is only SON that can discover these anomalies at the ports.
    “So, we believe that the policy ordering SON out of the port is not correct,and they should be allowed back to the port to checkmate substandard goods,” he said.
    Responding, the SON Director-General, Osita Aboloma, said the oversight function was to give the senate committee first hand information about the level of progress made so far in the wake of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
    “We are delighted to have you here for you to see what we do in ensuring standardisation and quality assurance.
    “For you to see what we have been able to achieve with the money appropriated to us and our needs in terms of human and capital infrastructure needs.
    “The journey so far in positioning SON to be ready for the AfCFTA to enable us to break barriers to trade has been quite tasking.
    “This is why it is required of us to have laboratories to carry out tests of conformity to our standards or the harmonised standards agreed upon by continental bodies,” he said.
    Aboloma said that Nigeria, through SON, “is leading other countries in harmonisation of standards”.
    He said that there were 40 laboratories presently, where eight had been accredited and 20 undergoing accreditation to position them in readiness for the AfCFTA.
    “All these we have been able to achieve through the appropriation to SON.
    “What we had, we have managed judiciously, but we still need more as this organisation will be as efficient and powerful as the Senate and National Assembly will want it to be.
    “We have capacity for infinite possibilities and all we need is more encouragement and assistance as we consider the senate as standards ambassadors.
    “Keeping Nigerians safe is a task we must all work together to achieve,” the SON director-general said. (NAN)
  • Son flees after stabbing parents to death in Lagos

    Son flees after stabbing parents to death in Lagos

    A man, Micheal Okhide, has absconded after allegedly stabbing his father, Clement, and mother, Toyin, to death in their house located on No 6, Akeem Gbadamosi Street, in the Ejigbo area of Lagos State.

    Daybreak Metro gathered that Michael and his parents were at home when an issue happened which led him to perpetrate the crime.

    Afterwards, it was learnt that the 23-year-old also allegedly attacked his sister, Mercy, a corp member, who returned home around 5.30pm.

    Michael’s sister, Mercy, said when she got home, she saw bloodstains in the house, adding that her brother allegedly attacked her but she escaped with injuries.

    She said, “When I got home around 5.30pm, I met the entrance door open and saw blood on the net. The door to the kitchen was also open but when I entered into the kitchen, I saw that there was bloodstain everywhere and I became scared.

    “As I was leaving the kitchen, I heard my mummy screaming my name that I should run, and immediately, I saw Michael came where I was and I saw bloodstains on him.

    “He told me to come inside and I refused, so, both of us started struggling and he stabbed me in my stomach and my hands but I was lucky that the cut was not deep. He wanted to prevent me from escaping but I was lucky to escape and he ran back inside and later I heard that he ran away and locked the gate with a padlock.”

    A resident in the area, who identified himself has Salau, said Michael absconded after perpetrating the crime, alleging that he was a drug addict that had been rusticated from three universities.

    “I know that boy that killed his parents; he stabbed the mother and the father to death and also stabbed his sister who just got back from work where she is serving but she was able to run out of the house and survived. The police from the Ejigbo Police Division visited the scene of the crime yesterday to evacuate the corpses and also came today for further investigation.

    “Nobody was around when he stabbed his parents to death in their apartment. That boy has been a torn in their flesh and was a drug addict that had been rusticated from three private universities. He ran away after perpetrating the crime.”

    When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said a manhunt has been launched for the arrest of Michael, adding that the corpses were evacuated to the Isolo General Hospital.

    Elkana said, “On Tuesday, February 4, 2020, around 6pm, I was alerted that a young man, Michael Okhide, 23, had killed his father, Clement Okhide, 60 and suspected to have seriously injured his mother on No 6 Akeem Gbadamosi Street. When our men were mobilised to the scene, we found Clement, dead in the pool of his blood in the kitchen. Blood was also seen all over the kitchen and a thorough search of the house led to the discovery of the remains of Clement’s wife, Toyin, 50, in one of the locked-up rooms upstairs.

    “Two corpses were recovered and deposited at the Isolo General Hospital’s mortuary. The assailant equally stabbed his sister, Mary, in the stomach and on the hands. She has visited the Ejigbo Health Centre where she received treatment. A manhunt has been launched to arrest the fleeing assailant.”