Onitsha—The Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, has sealed off a shop in the Tools and Allied Products Dealers Market, Onitsha, for allegedly selling sub-standard Carlton chain saws valued at N50 million.

Mr. Madubuike Nwajagu, the Coordinator of SON Office, said in Awka that the shop would remain shut pending further investigations on the matter.

He said the agency wanted to ascertain whether the products were from the manufacturer.

Nwajagu said: “We (agency) have swung into investigation and analyses to discover whether the stock of product is from the manufacturer or not.

“The product can only be sub-standard if it is not within the manufacturer’s quality.”

However, Chief Sylvester Ahanonu, Vice Chairman of the market, alleged that the shop owner was being victimised because a dealer claimed sole franchise of the product.

He said that the sale of Carlton chain saws from the manufacturer dates back to 30 years in the market.

“This problem started about three months ago when a trader in the market got sole franchise of the products from its manufacturer.

“The sole franchise owner, who is our member, had been advised to meet with the market association executives and discuss ways to actualise the sole franchise mandate without harassing other traders who already have the products.

“The association has advised the dealer to either buy up the old stocks of the chain saws within the market, which still has the known manufacturer’s label.

“In the alternative, he should give the traders who have the old stocks some time to sell their stocks before buying directly from him.

“But he went about accusing and threatening the traders, who still have the old stock and reported them to SON and the police.

“The dealer  told the government agents that some traders were selling fake and sub-standards in the market,” he said.

Ahanonu assured that the market remained a place to buy quality products.