The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) has frowned at the rate at which importers now bring in unbranded, improperly labeled products devoid of country of origin and user manual into the country describing the development as unhealthy.
The Director-General of SON, Mr. Osita Anthony Aboloma who made this disclosure at a stakeholders’ forum organized by the agency in conjunction with the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) with importers in attendance in Lagos yesterday hinted that importers now import products from abroad into the country with made in Nigeria labels on them.
Represented by the Director Inspectorate and Compliance, SON, Engr. Bede Obayi, Aboloma pointed out that these importers engaged in this act with the intent of deceiving Nigerians into believing that the products were manufactured in the country thereby defeating the intention of the federal government to drive the consumption of made in Nigeria goods.
According to him,”And that is why SON is calling on all of you today so that we sit together as a family. This is a town hall meeting where we need to ask ourselves question, are we getting it right? Is this country like another country or a substandard country? If it is an independent country, why can’t we observe our laws and regulations that are there for citizens of this country to enjoy the dividends of standardization?
“We have people bringing products that are made outside and stay here and label them as made in Nigeria products. That cannot drive the government’s quest for consumption of made in Nigeria products. You have somebody bringing imported products and writing made in Nigeria from outside and he is bringing them here. It is not going to help compliant trade in Nigeria.
“And so, if SON is out there to do its own bit, we need those who are doing the business, the stakeholders with us to understand their own responsibility. So, it is not the issue of saying this government agency has seized the containers either on the highway or somewhere but what did you do? Did you understand the procedures for these importation before you brought in the goods?”
He disclosed that people were taking substandard products, products that were not tested on bond wondering how that would advance compliant trade in the country even as he assured that SON cannot sit down and allow Nigerians to be consuming products that would kill them.
“We have also seen places where SONCAP certificates that are supposed to be used in testing these products overseas, you see the SONCAP certificates presented for a product, it is not what it is in the container. So, why will you go and get SONCAP certificate and swap it with another product. These are the issues that we have called all of you today and we have invited capable Nigerians who are going to look at the issues here”, he added.
Delivering his paper, the President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Chief Increase Uche, harped on the need for the forum to enlighten the importing public on the importance to fostering trade without compromising standards of import business in Nigeria.
Uche pledged his association’s support in advocating compliance to healthy trade rules, and cautioned that government’s security agencies must remain vigilant, even as government works towards clearing all hindrances to smooth flow of trade processes.
“Care must be taken in securing our supply chain through the vigilance of the regulatory agencies in carrying out their mandates. Border protection by security agencies has also become imperative in order to check illicit trade in offensive goods that threatens life and property,” he said.
Speaking on the ills of corruption and other vices such as non-compliance to trade rules, false declaration and concealment, the NAGAFF boss called on the Nigeria Customs Service in particular, and other regulatory agencies to brace up against the trend as according to him, “Importers and exporters (shippers) are increasingly becoming more sophisticated in perfecting their activities which most times are targeted at avoiding checks.
Uche noted that much as the importer was expected to comply with the guidelines, the challenges, some of which include high charges, language barriers and incessant interruptions should be addressed.
On his part, the National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Association of Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Dr. Kayode Farinto observed that as much as the clearing and forwarding practitioners have roles to play in the ease of doing business, the form ‘M’ used in clearing the good should bear the name of the importer for easy identification of persons to be held responsible should anything go wrong.
In a goodwill message, Mr. Oluwasegun Oshidipe of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) pledged his association’s continued support for the regulatory functions of SON, and the need to uphold standards in their products so as to be able to give local consumers of their products the best and compete internationally.
He therefore called attention that all manufacturers would always want to see home-grown policies to promote local products, in order to improve procedures in line with best practices, and a fast cargo clearing system in terms of timing.
He also talked on the need for process that can enable manufacturers predict for planning and projection adding that the concerned agencies of government must address the challenges of smuggling and making Nigeria a dumping ground for sub-standard goods.
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