The
Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has evacuated substandard locally
cloned cables worth over N8 billion in two warehouses in Ajagbandi area in
Lagos
State as part of moves to prevent the cables from getting into the
market.
Indeed, the
agency said should these goods find their way into the Nigerian markets, it
has the potential of starting an inferno when used, but assured that SON is on
top gear to address the situation.
The
Director, Inspectorate and Compliance, SON, Engr. Bede Obayi, during an
enforcement exercise explained that the importer belonging to one Estobest
Electrical Limited, will face the full wrath of the law for indulging in such
nefarious activity.
Guardian reported that some of the
established brands recovered from the operation include Coleman cables, Nexans,
purechem and other unbranded cables.He said the enforcement exercise is in line
with the federal government’s quest to protect local industries from unfair
competition against the influx of substandard goods.
According to
him, SON has made some enviable progress in the nation’s cable market, saying
that this is the reason why these importers go abroad to clone Nigerian
cables.
“All these
cloned-Nigerian cable were made in China, but being packaged as made-in-Nigeria
products and you know we are proud of made-in-Nigeria cables, because it is
about the best cable over the world. This will not be accepted and SON will
not allow it. We are going to go after the importer and also going to prosecute
him according to the act of SON.
“The total
value of these cables is estimated to be over N8 billion. You can imagine
Nigerians losing N8 billion to this nefarious activity by these unscrupulous
importers. Which company will survive when substandard products are taking over
production capacities of local industries and with employment generation also
being affected?
“We are
already moving them out because we have to take them out of circulation, we
cannot allow these cables to enter the Nigerian markets and this is why we are
evacuating them from the warehouses. We want to use this medium to send a stern
warning to other importers who engage in this kind of illicit trade to say that
there is no room for these kinds of trade in Nigeria.”
He however
advised Nigerian consumers to always ask questions before buying products,
saying that the qualities of these brands are not the same with certified
brands while also adding that SON is not behind these brands.
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