BY UDEME CLEMENT
Worried about the influx of fake and substandard goods allegedly  from Republic of China, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)  has warned Nigerian importers to desist from sabotaging the economy by bringing  such products into the country to the detriment of consumers.

SON DG

The Director, SON, Lagos Operations, Mr. John Sulle, gave this warning  while addressing participants at the annual general meeting of Toiletries and Cosmetics (T&C) Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN),  stressing that negotiation on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nigerian government and China is on-going.

The reason, he said, was to check the standard of products coming into Nigeria and the their level of compliance with SONCAP  requirement.

He said: “the dialogue for the MoU is still on, but what is holding the document is the fact that China is asking for self regulation of its products, because they want to certify their products by themselves and we are also saying that if that is done, they must claim damages for any product that is substandard.  We are asking for the cooperation of our importers to address the situation”.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman T& C Group of  MAN, Engineer Goke Okunlola, said, “Lack of patronage has killed the textile industries, automobile, battery and match manufacturing industries to mention a few. The penchant for foreign cosmetics and toiletries by our women is gradually killing our economy.  When we buy products made in Nigeria we generate employment for the teaming unemployed population.”