From: Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has charged the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to do more in checking the importation of adulterated products into the country and ensure it protects the interest of consumers.
Governor Amosun gave this charge, on Tuesday, in Abeokuta, in his keynote address, at the quality awareness programme organised by the SON on the theme: ‘Quality awareness and effects of substandard lubricants on engines and equipment’, for producers of lubricants, automobile fitters and end users.
Represented by Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, the governor noted there were some substandard lubricants in the Nigerian market. He, therefore, tasked the organization on the need to carry out thorough investigation, arrest and prosecute manufacturers and purveyors of substandard, and hazardous products and services.
“I want to charge the Standard Organisation of Nigeria to be up and doing in its responsibility of protecting the consumers through the elimination of substandard and hazardous goods and services from the market place.” He added.
He further stated his administration would continue to insist that products of companies within the state should be of high quality that could compete with international standard.
In his remark, the Director-General, SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma, said the workshop was organised to sensitise operators in the lubricants sector on the need to adhere to standards in the production and usage of certified products.
The DG who was represented by the Director of Management and Systems Certification of SON, Engr. (Mrs.) Oluremi Ayeni, noted that lubricants were essential to running engines in the industries saying that “the wheel of industries will grind to a halt without lubrication.”
He, equally noted that adulterated or bad lubricants would shorten the life of engines and could ultimately lead to increase in running cost and prices of products or services.
He, then, urged consumers to always place premium on products with certification and standardisation, submitting “because they have gone through due processes and examination.”