ABUJA – The Director-General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu, has said that influx of substandard foreign products into the country was slowly “killing” the nation’s economy.
Odumodu stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
According to him, the influx of substandard products from abroad has led to the collapse of many industries in the country, especially in the North-West.
He said that the prevalence of such products, particularly those from China, was largely responsible for the collapse of most industries in Kano state, the economic hub of the North.
“As you are aware, substandard products have affected our economy. If you go to Kano today, you will discover that most companies there have collapsed because we have ignored standards and that is why we are suffering.
“In fact, some of these foreign products being consumed in Nigeria are injurious to our health and poor people are dying and nobody is asking questions,” he said.
Odumodu stressed that the problem of substandard commodities made some companies to leave Nigeria for a more conducive environment, because they were losing money and no longer making profit.
According to him, no company currently produces tyre in Nigeria, and an instance is Michelin which relocated to Ghana because of the harsh operating environment.
He said that the menace of substandard products to the nation’s economy informed the seminar organized by SON a few days ago to sensitize major stakeholders and the public on its target of eradicating substandard products in Nigeria.
He emphasized that the seminar, which was held in Abuja would be replicated in the six geo-political zones, stressing that every Nigerian was expected to be part of the fight against substandard products.
According to him, when substandard products are removed, opportunity will be created for locally-made products.
Odumodu therefore urged Nigerians to say shun substandard products by rejecting any product without e-code of SON.
On collaboration with Chinese government to check the importation of sub-standard products into Nigeria, he said that the agency was working out modalities on the issue.
He acknowledged that China had remained one of Nigeria’s best friends in terms of trade relationship. (NAN)
