Stakeholders in the maritime trade supply chain in Nigeria have lamented the seeming uncontrolled influx of fake and substandard goods into the country, noting how dangerous this could be to the local industries, especially at a time the Federal Government is making frantic efforts towards diversifying the economy from over- dependence on oil revenue.
The stakeholders also argued that the continued absence of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), from the seaports and other entry points has further enhanced the influx of these unwholesome products, a development that urgently requires that the organisation returns to the seaports to curb this menace.
Speaking at a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation forum organised by SON in Lagos on Thursday, with the theme: “Standards Save life, grow Economy”, the National Vice President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Dr Kayode Farinto, while delivering a paper entitled: “Juxtaposing the absence of SON from the seaports and the worsening influx of substandard products”, noted that it was necessary the agency returned to the seaports immediately.
He noted that the volume of substandard goods that flood the country’s market, has become increasingly dangerous and unsustainable which apart from weakening the local manufacturing industry, also poses a great danger to the citizens and the country’s economy.
He went further to cite instances of substandard building materials including electrical wires and other components, which have led to collapse buildings and fire outbreaks in homes and offices, leading to death and maiming of scores of Nigerians, he warned that if the country does not kill substandard products, such products will definitely kill the country.
According to him, SON has over the years made efforts at standardising products imported into the country, which also led to the introduction of the Standards Conformity Assessment SONCAP certificate, which is a mandatory offshore document obtained from all major countries where Nigeria imports from across the globe.
According to Dr. Farinto, based on the expectation that most of the trading public in the country would comply with the SONCAP requirement and the need to streamline the number of government agencies operating at the seaports to enhance speedy inspection and release of cargo, the then Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo –Iweala ordered some agencies including SON to leave the seaports; He however argued that the worsening spate of influx of substandard goods into the country reinforces the need for government to review the policyif Nigeria must win this war against fake and substandard products.
“SON was asked to leave the seaports due to the erroneous belief that it would enhance speed and efficiency in the inspection and release of cargo but current realities have shown that that belief was not true and needs a review. Therefore, if Nigeria must win this war against substandard products, SON must as a matter of urgency return to the seaports to enforce government’s control. SON should also be on the portal of the Nigeria Customs Service”, he argued.
He however warned that when SON returns to the seaport, it should not allow its operatives to seize and confiscate consignments which have been duly examined, cleared and released about 50 metres from the main seaport gates.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, had warned Nigerian importers against continued import of fake and substandard products into the country, insisting that Nigerians are the problem of Nigeria and that it would take the efforts and resolve of the citizens to address these challenges.
He observed that despite the fact that most of the blames for the current state of Nigeria have been placed on politicians, many Nigerians in their own small ways have contributed to the socio-economic and political woes of the country and that it would take collective efforts to rid the country of these woes.
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