James Sowole in Akure
The Ondo State office of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) said on Thursday that it had seized fake and substandard products worth millions of naira in Akure, the state capital.
The State Coordinator of the agency, Mr Paul Oke , who disclosed the seizure of the products, said the items confiscated included gas cylinders, electrical cables, tyres , bulbs and iron rods.
He also disclosed that a block industry was also sealed for allegedly producing blocks that failed the standard requirements.
The coordinator, who led the enforcement team on a routine inspection to some markets in Akure, said the organisation acted on information of influx of substandard and fake products in the markets.
He explained that the products were threat to the Nigerian growing economy and the people buying them innocently.
Oke, who did not disclosed the monetary value of the seized products, explained that over 400 tyres without quality information were seized from market, “numerous gas cylinders that cannot be traceable, energy bulbs without country of origin and as well as substandard electrical appliances and cables have been evacuated.”
He stated that fake products were harmful and amounted to waste of money and resources, stressing that the country must not be seen as a dumping ground for all substandard goods.
