By Franklin Alli
The Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Osita Aboloma, yesterday, lauded the National Assembly for passage of the new SON Act 14 of 2015 into law.

In a statement, Aboloma said: “The general provisions in the new SON Act  has empowered  the agency to prosecute perpetrators of substandard products manufacture, importation and distribution while also providing stiffer penalties for convictions including jail terms. The Act also empowers SON to seize and destroy substandard products in the country.”

The Director General described substandard products as a serious social and economic challenge which require the concerted efforts of all patriots to contend with in addition to provision of adequate financial resources, manpower and technology deployment .

Aboloma said his agency was strengthening its internal mechanisms to combat substandard products head on and urged all Nigerians to join hands with SON in order to create greater opportunities for genuine and certified locally manufactured products to thrive.

The DG pledged his total commitment to protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians as well its economy using the instruments of standardization and quality assurance.