SON: Importers under fire over substandard products

[Mirror]

Importers of electric bulbs in the country came under fire from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) at the weekend as the body engaged the importers at the Alaba International Market in a bid to stamp out substandard bulbs from our markets.

The effort was part of activities to mark this year's world standard day.

The agency, led by its Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, frowned at the proliferation of substandard electric bulbs in the market that is typically characterised by short lifespans due to non-adherence to standards in their production processes by the foreign manufacturers.

Odumodu also reiterated the agency's unwavering stance on the commencement of enforcement to remove all unregistered products nationwide as part of efforts at ensuring traceability and the boosting consumer confidence in every product offered for sale.

According to Odumodu; "It is possible to buy bulbs that can last up to one year with the consumer happy and the seller equally making profit. It is possible for us to celebrate a new Nigeria that is substandard free within one year if we all join hands together."

He added that Alaba International Market must align its character to its name by reflecting international standards in goods on sale at the market as quality was a global identity.

He said as we celebrate this year's theme; "International standards to ensure positive change," we have to rededicate ourselves to bringing that positive change to ourselves as individuals and as businesses, stressing that even one per cent presence of substandard products in the market can endanger lives.

"Unfortunately, the effects of substandard products are mostly felt by its victims, we can still change the negative perception being suffered by Nigeria by doing the right kind of business as it is the only way to do sustainable business," he said.

Making a lecture presentation to the importers and dealers on the dangers posed by substandard electric bulbs and the new direction to toe, SON's Head of Electric Laboratory, Engr. Richard Adewumi, noted that there is need to manage Nigeria's less than sufficient power generation efficiently as 30 per cent of electric consumption was through domestic and industrial lighting.

He defined a substandard electric bulb as any lamp that does not meet the minimum required standard in terms of safety, performance, marking and design.

He also disclosed that available records with SON shows that all the 105 watts electric bulbs in the country today are actually less than 40 watts.

Source: SON: Importers under fire over substandard products

[Folami David]

That is something we have to tackle in our country as soon as possible. It has to be tackled once and for all.