By Franklin Alli

THE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has urged the Federal Government to ban the importation of electric bulbs into the country.

The SON will also be meeting this month with stakeholders in the oil and gas sector over adulterated aviation fuel.

The Director General of the Agency, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, who gave these hints, weekend, said it has become necessary for government to ban imported energy saving bulbs because of the negative impact of substandard bulbs on the economy and their health implications on Nigerians.

“We are particularly passionate about placing embargo on bulbs because on an average Nigeria loses N500 million annually on substandard bulbs. The other caveat is that there is no clear process for the disposal. When we throw them away into the gutters we are creating additional health problem because we are pouring away mercury into the gutters. Sooner or later, we all have to pay for the health hazard.”

In a key note address during a capacity building programme organised by the agency for the commerce and industry journalists at Equity Resorts and Hotel in Ogun State, the Director General, emphasized: “We are putting pressure on the government to ban the importation of bulbs, and we are waiting for the approval through the Ministry of Trade and Investment.”

President Goodluck Jonathan

He urged Nigerian companies and their foreign manufacturers to come to the country and start manufacturing the items at the right quality.

Regarding the planned meeting with stakeholders in the oil and gas sector , he said shortly, we will be meeting with them because we have found out that even aviation fuel is being adulterated.

“There’s a lot going on in the sector that we need to know,” he said.

According to him, the Agency has already met with a number of stakeholders on the need for them to comply with “our current campaign of zero tolerance to substandard products.”

“As you are already aware, we have held stakeholders meeting with our friends who deal on electrical and electronic at the Alaba International market, Lagos, to effectively sensitise and mobilise them towards the campaign. We have also dialogue with other dealers of auto spare parts(aspamda), with Balogun brothers, Nnewi amalgamated traders association, Onitsha group, among others , and shortly, we would be meeting with the oil and gas people, including the galvanised sheets and aluminum people.

We need to ensure the safety of our country and our people, by safeguarding the products we consume, by ensuring the safety of our houses we live in, the safety of the appliances we use in our homes, factories and offices, etc,” he said.

The Association’s Chairman, Mr.Toba Agboola, lauded the Director General for his efforts to rid the economy of substandard goods, also called on the Federal Government to improve the funding of the organisation in order for it to play the desired role of standards setting, monitoring and enforcement.