The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SON

  • SON: no fake Amstel Malta in market

    SON: no fake Amstel Malta in market

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has dispelled rumours of the existence of fake Amstel Malta in circulation.
    Its Deputy Director, Mr. Fred Akingbesote, who represented the Director-General, explained that Nigerian Breweries (NB) PLC met all SON safety and quality requirements and those of the new National Industrial Standard (NIS) logo.
    Last August, Amstel Malta, the low sugar malt drink produced by NB, launched a new credential campaign tagged “Why Add More.”
    Shortly after the campaign, a material went viral that a fake version of the Amstel Malta was in the market. This was because the new package wore the new NIS logo, while the old one had the old NIS logo of SON.
    Akingbesote confirmed that the NIS logo on Amstel Malta is the highest mark of quality from SON and commended the management of NB for its commitment to the highest quality standard.
    He said NB is one of the first companies to adopt the new NIS logo, which was launched in September 2015.
    He maintained that the people behind the defamation were playing on the intelligence of Nigerians.

    “We have a web site, which contains all information on our standards and quality regulations. Every Nigerian, who has doubts about any product certified by SON, should crosscheck the facts,” he said.
    Also, the Corporate Affairs Adviser for NB, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, explained that Amstel Malta was one of the first brands to comply with SON directives. He added that the brand revised its packaging in line with the guidelines and approval of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and in compliance with the new mandatory NIS quality logo from SON.
    “In the normal course of product and packaging renovation, old packaging and the new introduction co-exist in the market until the old one dries out. In view of the 12 month shelf life, we have Amstel Malta with both the old and new packaging in some parts of the market,” Ekanem said.
    He maintained that Nigerian Breweries is a world class multinational company that has operated in Nigeria for over 70 years and that the quality of its brands has been one of the key success factors of the company across these decades. “Every pack of Amstel Malta is produced to the highest quality-control standards of Nigerian Breweries,” he noted.
    Ekanem assured consumers that every pack of Amstal Malta contains the same premium quality malt drink that they have come to love.
    He informed that the company has reported the defamation attempt to the police and remains grateful that the Police authorities are investigating the case further.

  • Dealers in substandard goods ‘re terrorists, says SON

    Dealers in substandard goods ‘re terrorists, says SON

    Dealers in substandard and adulterated products have been described as terrorists in view of the danger their activities pose to the security of lives and properties of Nigerians.

    Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Director-General,  Mr. Osita Aboloma spoek during a public sensitisation workshop organised for over 3000 manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers and market associations by Christabel International, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) on consumer advocacy in Onitsha, Anambra State.

    According to him, the supply of substandard or adulterated auto and aviation spare parts, medical devices, construction materials, food and drugs, among others, pose great threat to the health, safety, environment, property and lives of the citizens.

    Represented by the Director of Operations at SON, Mr. Felix Nyado, Aboloma said the negative impact of substandard or adulterated products to life and the socio-economic wellbeing of the country is very significant and needed effective prevention mechanisms.

    Aboloma said some electronic platforms were being deployed by SON in tackling the menace of substandard products circulation. The paltforms include the mandatory conformity assessment programme (MANCAP) for locally manufactured products; SONCAP for certification of imported products from source; product registration for documentation and traceability of all products in the market and Library services for access to relevant standards for local production import and export with ease among others.

    According to him, SON is the National Enquiry Point for World Trade Organisation/Technical Barrier to Trade for accessing information to identify relevant standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures for businesses in Nigeria.

    The SON chief  announced the recent deployment of standards on e-marketing for products traded on the web as well as the adaption of the Global Standard (GS) Solutions by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) to counter the growing issue of counterfeiting.

    The solutions, according to him, will provide unique identification keys to manufacturers and businesses that will help improve collaboration, traceability, transparency, security and visibility within the supply chain in real-time.

  • SON seals firms over ‘sub-standard’ products

    SON seals firms over ‘sub-standard’ products

    Determined to rid the country of fake and sub-standard goods which cause health hazards to Nigerians, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has raided some companies in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State suspected to be dealing in fake products. Three companies at Awada and Arondizogu streets in 3-3 GRA belonging to two different persons were sealed by the organisation.

    Eight persons were also arrested  during the raid.

    Among those arrested included a Chinese, Ming Tiandong and the owner of Bendusco Industries Limited, Mr. Benjamin Nwizu.

    At 3-3 GRA at Nkwelle-Ezunaka, four of the workers of the company, all girls, were arrested along with the security man and the company’s driver.

    The company was alleged to be involved in producing fake shaving sticks and razor blades known as Tip-Up and Tigger respectively. However, the owner of the firm ran away with his family.

    The companies’ products and machines were confiscated by SON, even as one of the vehicles of one of the companies was also confiscated.

    Addressing reporters after the operation at Nkwelle-Ezunaka, the Deputy Director Operations (SON), Suleman Isah, said the firms were sealed because they were producing sub-standard products, adding that that informed the combined operation.

    He said SON would prosecute the suspects after full investigations had been carried out, adding that the companies had been under the organisation’s surveillance for years.

    The Director of Operations, who led another group to Awada, Mr. Felix Nyado, said DSK Goldings City Investment Limited and Bendusco International Limited were producing fake tooth paste, brush and shaving sticks.

    He also accused the companies of producing sub-standard products in a filthy environment.

    But the owner of the two companies, who hid inside the ceiling before he was dragged down by the security operatives, claimed that SON had visited the place before the current operation.

    He expressed dissatisfaction over the action of the organisation, adding that he had earlier taken them to the Federal High Court in Awka where, according to him, the court ruled that they should go back to the status quo.

    Nwizu further claimed that he had reported SON to the National Assembly where, he said, SON was warned not to disturb his company again.

    But briefing reporters, Nyado denied Nwizu’s claims, saying that the companies had engaged in unwholesome acts.

  • Imported 10kg gas cylinders harmful, says SON

    Imported 10kg gas cylinders harmful, says SON

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has described as dangerous the imported 10 kilogrammes (kg) gas cylinders. It said the cylinders were carrying values meant for 3kg and 6kg cylinders.

    The agency made this known during the inspection of two 40-foot container loads of substandard gas cylinders worth about N50 million.

    SON Director-General, Osita Aboloma, who was represented by the Director of Compliance, Mr. Bede Obayi, said using a 6kg approval to bring in 10kg cylinders  subverted the regulatory standards and constituted economic sabotage.

    “The importer got approval to bring in 6kg, but went and imported 10kg camping gas, a different size, which is not in line with the standard. It is a typical negligence of the laws of the land,” Aboloma said.

    He urged the public not to patronise the 10kg cylinders because they are dangerous. SON, he said, has alerted its state offices to rid the market of the consignment.

    Aboloma said the only the 3kg and 6kg cylinders were approved for importation as camping gas, explaining that some unscrupulous importers were hiding under that to bring in 10 kg cylinders as camping gas.

    “The importation of 10kg cylinders as camping  gas is automatically out of the specification” Aboloma said.

    SON, he said, would prosecute importers of  the substandard gas cylinders and associated products.

    Importers would be made to follow regulatory guidelines as a way to avert danger, he said.

  • SON to destroy N400m sub-standard tyres

    SON to destroy N400m sub-standard tyres

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has an inventory of over N400million worth of substandard tyres awaiting destruction in its warehouses, the Director-General, Osita Anthony Aboloma, has said.

    The SON chief said the destruction is to serve both as a deterrent and to also forestall a situation where such products, if left un-destroyed, could be recycled into the society,  with its obvious and staggering implications

    Aboloma, who delivered a goodwill message to Christians against the background of the Christmas and New Year festivities, bemoaned the fact that some motorists still take the condition of tyres with levity, added that this has resulted in a lot of avoidable road crashes leading to loss of lives and property.

    The SON boss said his agency would continue to sensitise Nigerians on the propriety of double-checking the quality of products they buy, while at the same time sanctioning those behind such substandard products

    Aboloma listed common problems associated with used tyres to include, outright substandard brands, expired tyres, stuffing at the point of shipping and haulage within the country, as well as inappropriate gauging.

    “We know that these are issues that could actually be contained if people were a bit more sincere and careful, but experience has shown that there are many people, from manufacturers to importers and vulcaniers down to drivers who do not want to do the right thing; they would rather try to cut corners, and this is the result of some of these negative incidences on the road,” he said.

    He said as the apex regulatory agency on standards, SON will continue its efforts at checkmating the manufacture, import or sale of substandard products.

    “We have already spoken about our resolve to support small and medium enterprises in the county. This will become a reality when they are saved from unhealthy completion from imported substandard products, and also once they imbibe standardisation procedures specially tailored towards SMEs. It makes their products more reputable and reliable and increase demand of such products.”

    Aboloma enjoined motorists to take additional precautions as they convey passengers to and fro their different destinations in the yuletide.

    Aboloma said such precautions should begin with a thorough check on the status of their tyres as well as the air pressure.

    Aboloma said the status of the vehicle tyres was a strong determinant of safety behind the wheels, saying that motorists should take this into consideration.

    He appealed to Nigerians to continue to support the SON in the discharge of its duties especially by volunteering information when and where necessary, adding that such information has been effective in detecting and arresting substandard products.

  • SON presents MANCAP certificate to company

    SON presents MANCAP certificate to company

    The Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Ogun State Council, last week presented quality product certificate to Chubby Zion Nig. Limited, manufacturers of Baby Oku and Dorobucci hot drinks, whose products, were adjudged to have met requirements of relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards, NIS, specification and conditions approved by the Nigerian Standard Council for the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme, MANCAP.

    Speaking at the event, the Coordinator of Ogun State SON office 1, Ota, Engr Enebi Shaibu Onucheyo, urged manufacturing companies in Nigeria to come together as a group and entrench strong stringent regime on internal self regulations, which he said, will work better for them than rather prosecute such policy individually.

    He commended the chairman of the company, Chief Chibuike Peter, for his great vision and determination to achieve the feat by putting all required resources together, especially the testing facilities and employ right hands to manage those facilities.

    While decrying the spate of products counterfeiting across the country, the SON boss impressed on manufacturers on the need to adopt necessary measures like coding to protect their products.

    “It’s good to tell ourselves the truth sometimes that products can be faked. It’s time to rise to this occasion and work faster than those who will think that you have a certificate now that has given value to your products and destroy the market for you. Therefore, you need to code your products. When you code your products, it’s known to you. If it’s not your products, it can’t be your products,” he said.

    Responding, Peters thanked the management of SON and promised to keep all the rules and regulations of the organisation as well as ensure cleanliness in the production.

  • SON gets lab equipment

    SON gets lab equipment

    SGS Nigeria Limited, a qualityassurance services companyhas donated state-of-the-art textile laboratory equipment to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to support efforts to increase the quality and competitiveness of textile products in the country.
    Speaking at the handover of the equipment at the agency’s Lagos head office, Managing Director of SGS Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Hunter, described the gesture “as a fulfillment of our obligation to support the efforts of SON to achieve its mandate”.
    The equipment include a Digital Fabric Air Permeability Tester (ASTM D737) that is applicable in the determination of air permeability of decorating materials used in cars.
    Others were a Digital Tear Strength Tester (SLY-SI) used for the tearing test of films, sheets, flexible PVC, PVDC, waterproof films, woven materials, polypropylene, polyester, paper, cardboard, textiles and non-woven.
    Hunter said the equipment donated would enhance the capacity of the textile laboratory of SON in testing the quality of local or imported yarns, fabrics and textiles. Furthermore he said it will aid in identifying any imperfection and ensure that only quality textile products are sold to Nigerians and exported.
    He assured the management of SON that SGS will continue to provide technical support in the implementation of the SONCAP scheme in line with the provisions of the SONCAP contract and operation guidelines.
    Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Anthony OsitaAboloma, on behalf of the Agency commended SGS “for donating state of the art laboratory testing equipment for the benefit of all Nigerians. ‘We appreciate SGS for their discretion to raise SON to international standard, we thank the management of SGS for this donation, the company is one of our best agents and we appreciate this gesture. We urge you not to rest on your oars, please keep encouraging, and keep helping us to update our facilities”.
    SGS Government and Institutions (GIS) Contract Manager, Mr. Emmanuel Oyebode, informed the Director General that SGS has arranged for the installation and training of SON staff on the usage of the equipment by experts from the manufacturer.
    SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. Recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity,with more than 88,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,800 offices and laboratories around the world. The company is committed to providing exporters to Nigeria, and importers in Nigeria, with efficient services under the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Program (SONCAP), designed to prevent the import of substandard and unsafe products into Nigeria.

  • Bola Atobatele immortalises son with foundation

    Socialite extraordinaire, Prince Bola Atobatele, and his wife, Toyin, will soon launch a foundation in honour of their third child, Michael Babatunde Atobatele, who passed on in September. Like the statue of liberty which stands as an enduring symbol of American ideals, the foundation will immortalise Michael and carry on his hopes and desires for the society.

    The Prince Michael Babatunde Atobatele Foundation (PMBAF) was born out of the charity foundation the late Michael had planned to establish before the tides of eternity carried him away beyond the horizon. The departed Michael was a young man just setting out in life after completing a degree in Business and Human Resources Management from the University of Hertfordshire, UK.

    He had already started making inroads into the business world through Severe Nature, a printing and logo embroidery company he co-floated with a group of like-minds. This was besides his other interests in fashion designing and business ideas development.

    The foundation will be launched tomorrow at the Renaissance Hotel, Awolowo Way, Ikeja Lagos.

  • SON, UNIDO partner on governance standard

    SON, UNIDO partner on governance standard

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) are to develop a national standard for good governance that will be acceptable to stakeholders in both the public and private sectors.

    Its Director-General, Mr. Aboloma Osita made this known at the technical committee meeting on good governance standard in Abuja at the weekend.

    He said the idea is to align the standardisation processes of SON with international best practice.

    He said: “The objective of this technical committee was basically to develop a national standard for good governance that will be acceptable and applicable to stakeholders both in the public and private sector of the country, irrespective of the size or status of their organisations. This is understandably not an easy task.’’

    He said the organisation was confident that the committee would deliver on its objectives, adding that at their last meeting, the efforts of their members were noted.

  • SON destroys N500m substandard goods

    SON destroys N500m substandard goods

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), at the weekend destroyed substandard goods worth N500 million at a dumpsite in Epe, Lagos.

    Director General of SON Mr. Osita Anthony Aboloma, said the coming of substandard goods into the country is an act of corruption worthy of death sentence

    He warned culprits to comply with the campaign against fake products importation or face the music.

    He said most of the goods found their way into the country through unapproved routes along the borders.

    Aboloma noted that despite the series of enlightenment campaigns organised by the SON to educate the citizenry about the harmful effects of these products, importers, especially smugglers, have continued to indulge in the illicit trade.

    According to him, the sub-standard products destroyed include, armored cables, energy saving lamp, Pampers for babies, expired extension sockets, shaving sticks and shaving blades, and mobile phones.

    “We are destroying this huge volume of goods that have created jobs for people overseas. Unfortunately, by the time we destroy these goods, we get nothing but economic loss.

    “We are not happy destroying these products, but if we can save the life of one Nigerian by doing this,, we would have done something for this country and this is exactly the core mandate of our agency by showing zero tolerance for substandard goods?,” he added.

    He said the government would continue to show commitment to its zero tolerance policy on fake and sub-standard products, including those produced in Nigeria.

    “These goods were destroyed to save the lives of Nigerians who are not aware of the harmful effect of these products. So many people have lost their loved ones by consuming these substandard products.

    “We want to use this opportunity to beg Nigerians, especially the genuine importers, to always insist on doing the right thing, by working together with the authorities, to get the ?right minimum requirements to import goods into the country.

    “We want to also commend the media for being the vanguard of our enlightenment campaigns and we will continue to fight until only goods that meet the minimum requirements are paraded in our markets.”

    Aboloma said the destruction was carried out in accordance with SON’s procedure which started with market survey, surveillance, inventory, seizure, sampling, laboratory tests and analyses to ascertain conformity to specifications and requirements of Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS).