The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SON

  • SON arrests importers of fake auto parts

    Determined to deliver on its mandate to rid Nigerian markets of fake and sub-standard products, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has seized sub-standard auto spare-parts worth N20 million from Mundus Auto Limited at the popular Auto Parts and Mechanics Dealers Association (ASPAMDA) market at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex along Mile 12-Badagry Expressway. The importer was also arrested.

    Also confiscated were cartons of adulterated locally-made tooth brushes, allegedly imported from China.

    The raid, according to SON, was part of its on-going ‘Operation Flush’ campaign aimed at eliminating sub-standard products from circulating in the country.

    Briefing reporters after the exercise, leader of the Monitoring and Enforcement team, Assistant Director, Inspectorate and Compliance Department of the agency, Mr. Fred Akingbesote, expressed disgust at the rate importers throw caution to the wind in their bid to maximise profit. He disclosed that a similar raid, which took place earlier in the year, involved the same culprit whose shop was amongst those locked up for the same offence.

    “If you recall that this type of exercise was carried out precisely on April 8. The same culprit refused to understand what we are saying. They continued in their nefarious activities by faking the product. This is an engine component spare part in a heavy-duty vehicle originally a product of Poland with a minimum life-span of two years, but this fake one from China can only last for about two months.

    “Everything about the rotor looks exactly like the original. It takes an eagle-eye of a technically competent person to identify, but this person continues to bring it in from China, while the original is made in Poland,” he said.

    Unperturbed by SON’s action in locking the shops, the importer, who had been on the run since the incident, together with members of his cartel obtained a court injunction against the agency and went ahead with normal business, not minding the fact that a day of reckoning always comes.

    The SON top official said: “When these shops were locked in April they went to court and got an injunction which I’m not aware of; that notwithstanding, the pedestal at which SON works now is a different platform entirely because of our amended Act. In time past, we needed to obtain court order, but now Section 30; sub-section 4 gives us the same right, privilege and authority like any law enforcement agency, especially the Police. Now, we can arrest, prosecute and detain as the case may be. So, running around obtaining court injunctions based on the old Act is just a waste of time.”

    The former SON Act empowers the Standards Council to design, establish and approve standards in respect of metrology, materials, commodities, structures, and processes for the certification of products in commerce and industry throughout Nigeria and to carry out any other function imposed on it under the former Act. It also empowers the Director-General to enforce standards, quality control of products, science of measurement, and all matters relating to metrology; investigate quality of products, etc, seize, seal, destroy or prohibit the sale of sub-standard products; power to enter any premises, building etc. where commercial activity is taking place to perform her functions, amongst others.

    Following the unprecedented passing of the SON amended Act by the immediate seventh National Assembly, it has now acquired new powers not only to arrest, prosecute and jail purveyors of fake and sub-standard products across the country, but prevent importers of such products into the country from having the usual mentality of ‘business as usual’. With this upgraded status, the war against fake and sub-standard products would gain new impetus and bite.

    Akingbesote stressed that the high rate of accidents on our roads is caused by the use of counterfeit imported auto spare parts by motorists, while decrying the unpatriotic attitude of some unscrupulous businessmen, who would stop at nothing to amass wealth at the detriment of others.

    “These are fake metals, but look like the original. It has to be subjected to fatigue and mechanical tests to further check for the component and the characteristics of the metal. These are just fake; they look shiny, polished, but there’s actually nothing in them. Something that is for duration of two years minimum, you use it for a couple of months and it’s all over.”

    “This is why we have high rate of damage on trucks on the road and accidents. It’s an engine component and anything can happen,” he said.

    He expressed joy at the milestone reached with the ‘operation flush’ campaign and promised that the agency would stop at nothing to ensure that sub-standard products are removed from Nigeria’s markets, while warning dubious importers to desist from proliferating fake products because the long arm of SON would definitely catch up with them.

  • SON reduces substandard goods by 50%, says Odumodu

    The Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON, disclosed that the organization has in the last four years reduced the level of substandard goods in the country from 85% to 45%, though still lamenting that the organization has not done enough.

    The Director General, Standard Organization of Nigeria, Joseph Odumodu disclosed this during a one day round table with Civil society organizations and presentation of operation flush in Abuja, stating that though the agency has done so much in the last four years but more needs to be done.

    He said, “The zero tolerance policy for substandard products will focus on complete elimination of substandard goods in the country with the use of conformity assessment schemes such as SONCAP in guarding our shores from influx of inferior goods.

    “E-product registration established a data base of all SON- certified products in the country whether locally made or importer. A certified product is one that has passed the standard test by SON. Any product that has not been recognized in the SON e-product registration database will attract operation e-flush attention.

    “Operation e-flush will remove substandard products from both the supply chain and the demand chain, it will clear distribution chain of deficient products through constant inspection of goods purchased by wholesalers and retailers.

    “Retailers who peddled uncertified goods will have their stores closed down and the uncertified goods seized by the SON inspection officers.”

    Odumodu said the key message here is ‘don’t stock, don’t sell’ stating that the agency is pleading with wholesalers and retailers alike to patronize only manufacturers and importers whose products Steve-registered.

  • SON seizes N250m goods at Idumota market

    In furtherance to its plan to get rid of fake products in the country, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has seized substandard goods worth N250 million  at Idumota market.

    Briefing newsmen in Lagos after the operation, the Director, Inspectorate and Compliance Directorate of SON, Mr . Bede Obayi expressed worry over the desperation of some unscrupulous Nigeria business men who can go to any length at maximising profit without taking cognisance of health, economic and safety implications of those fake and substandard products to the consumers and the nation’s economy.

    He said: ” We are raiding this Idumota market in Lagos Island today as part of our mandate as well as based on intelligence report that some sanitary products which were registered with SON had been faked by some people and we as a standard body are duty bound to protect Nigerian consumers from the evil machinations of those Nigerians who are prepared to stop at nothing in swindling and harming uninformed Nigerian consumers ”

    Some of the suspected fake and substandard sanitary products seized by SON team, according to Obayi, include such brands as Dorco shaving stick, BIC Chrome Platinum Blade, Zorrik shaving stick, Treet shaving stick, Nacet shaving stick as well as Jet Power Electric wire and cable.  ”As you can see, BIC  chrome platinum blade is manufactured by an indigenous company in the country but some importer smartly brought in the product ‘with made in Nigeria’ inscriptions on them obviously with the aim of deceiving users of the product,” he said.

    Obayi advised users of  wire and cable especially those in the building construction industry to ensure they patronise genuine made- in- Nigeria cables as laboratory results had shown that made- in- Nigeria cables are the best all over the world hence some dubious Nigerian business men have embarked on massive importation of the product and label them made-in-Nigeria apparently for quick sales and undue profit.

    He said wire and cables are some of the goods SON had categorised as life  dangerous products because of the inherent dangers  it posed to life and property of the users when fake and substandard brands are used.

    The SON head of Inspectorate and Compliance Directorate assured Nigerians of his organisation’s preparedness to fight the cankerworm called fake and substandard goods in all Nigerian markets so that Nigeria consumers would not only have value for their money but create level playing field for importers and local manufacturers to transact their businesses and thus boost the economy and create employment opportunities for unemployed Nigerians.

    He  appealed to Nigerians not to hesitate to report to any consumer complaint desk of SON offices nearest to them whenever they discover that they are not having value for their purchases and assured that their complaints shall always be treated with dispatch.

  • Fake phones, laptops: Dealers blame SON, Customs, others

    Fake phones, laptops: Dealers blame SON, Customs, others

    Information technology dealers at Computer Village, Ikeja have decried the inadequacies of regulatory government agencies and greed of dubious importers making sub-standard IT products to thrive in the market.

    According to the Secretary General of Computer and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria, CAPDAN, Mr. John Oboro, the government is the only agency that has the instrument of enforcement as the association can do just  a little to curb the menace.

    He said: ‘’The man who imported counterfeit smartphones and laptops want to make profit. But it is the duty of the government to checkmate it. The Federal Government has moved a step forward to evolve the MANCAP and the SONCAP certificates. For you to import a product into Nigeria, you have to get the SONCAP certificate. These are not regulations by the ordinary men but by the government’.

    Mr. Oboro further added, ‘’Sub-standard phones and laptops do not fly into the country. They pass through the border and we have the custom officials there who are supposed to monitor and regulate importation’.

    He however, made a clarion call that all hands must be on deck to ensure that computer village is free from all sub- standard products. In his words: Everyone in Nigeria has a contribution to make. We must put our hands together to drive the process together’.

    Corroborating this was Mr. Emeka, a dealer in laptops and electronic accessories who said, ‘’we all know that these products are not produced in Nigeria but they are imported. It is the duty of the custom officials to monitor what comes into the country but some of these officials are very corrupt, they collect bribes and allow counterfeit products into the country’’.

    He added that though some dealers intentionally import fake products, there are also instances of factory error; where original Smartphone develop technical faults a couple of weeks after purchase and customers blames the dealers instead of the manufacturer.

    Speaking on the increase of sub-standard products at Computer Village, a customer who claimed anonymity said, ‘Computer Village is a market where deceit thrives. I bought a smartphone from one of the shops two days ago, but when I got home, I discovered that the phone cannot access the internet. I have been to the shop twice but the issue is yet to be resolved.

    When asked if he would make a report to the police he said, ‘I would rather let sleeping dog lie, because taking the case to the police does not mean I will get an internet enabled phone at the end. I would not want to lose at both ends.

    A computer Engineer who introduced himself as Olaniyi Sodiq described Computer Village, Ikeja as an IT Village where everything goes regardless of the standard. According to him the market offers products of different qualities to suit the varied taste of its customers.

    He said, ‘if you want to get a new branded phone, a used phone, or even swap your used phone for another, it all depends on the choice of the consumer, I go for the original accessories but sub-standard accessories are also available too’. nformation technology dealers at Computer Village, Ikeja have decried the inadequacies of regulatory government agencies and greed of dubious importers making sub-standard IT products to thrive in the market.

    According to the Secretary General of Computer and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria, CAPDAN, Mr. John Oboro, the government is the only agency that has the instrument of enforcement as the association can do just  a little to curb the menace.

    He said: ‘’The man who imported counterfeit smartphones and laptops want to make profit. But it is the duty of the government to checkmate it. The Federal Government has moved a step forward to evolve the MANCAP and the SONCAP certificates. For you to import a product into Nigeria, you have to get the SONCAP certificate. These are not regulations by the ordinary men but by the government’.

    Mr. Oboro further added, ‘’Sub-standard phones and laptops do not fly into the country. They pass through the border and we have the custom officials there who are supposed to monitor and regulate importation’.

    He however, made a clarion call that all hands must be on deck to ensure that computer village is free from all sub- standard products. In his words: Everyone in Nigeria has a contribution to make. We must put our hands together to drive the process together’.

    Corroborating this was Mr. Emeka, a dealer in laptops and electronic accessories who said, ‘’we all know that these products are not produced in Nigeria but they are imported. It is the duty of the custom officials to monitor what comes into the country but some of these officials are very corrupt, they collect bribes and allow counterfeit products into the country’’.

    He added that though some dealers intentionally import fake products, there are also instances of factory error; where original Smartphone develop technical faults a couple of weeks after purchase and customers blames the dealers instead of the manufacturer.

    Speaking on the increase of sub-standard products at Computer Village, a customer who claimed anonymity said, ‘Computer Village is a market where deceit thrives. I bought a smartphone from one of the shops two days ago, but when I got home, I discovered that the phone cannot access the internet. I have been to the shop twice but the issue is yet to be resolved.

    When asked if he would make a report to the police he said, ‘I would rather let sleeping dog lie, because taking the case to the police does not mean I will get an internet enabled phone at the end. I would not want to lose at both ends.

    A computer Engineer who introduced himself as Olaniyi Sodiq described Computer Village, Ikeja as an IT Village where everything goes regardless of the standard. According to him the market offers products of different qualities to suit the varied taste of its customers.

    He said, ‘if you want to get a new branded phone, a used phone, or even swap your used phone for another, it all depends on the choice of the consumer, I go for the original accessories but sub-standard accessories are also available too’.

  • SON, others seek reduction of lead in paints

    Concerned with the effect of lead in paints, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and stakeholders in the industry said it has planned measures to check the trend. Lead in paints, according to experts, is life-threatening, especially to children and the young.

    At a joint stakeholders’meeting in Lagos, SON’s Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said the organisation would ensure that paint manufacturing is conducted in line with global best practices, stressing that SON has the mandate to ensure quality and safety of end-users of products.

    The Technical Committee meeting was convened by SON to finalise the appropriate standard regulation on paints to tackle the problem of heavy lead in made-in-Nigeria paints.

    Odumodu, represented by Mr Abiola Komolafe, SON’s Director of Standards, said: “We have resolved that the appropriate benchmark is 90ppm (part per million) and this is acceptable all over the world.

    ?”?For the consumers, if the content of lead is high, it is very hazardous and can create a lot of health problems particularly to children. All over the world, the focus is for the content to be brought down to the barest minimum so that it will be safe for consumers.”

    Odumodu explained that SON’s processes of establishing and reviewing products standards are presented to the Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment for approval, saying once they are approved, the stakeholders would decide on the implementation.

    “Paint Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) is here and I am sure once everything is put in place, they will know what to do. The public will benefit more through the implementation of our decision,” the director added.

    According to Mrs. Mbah Adaora of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), “Our major concern is the lead content in paint because of the effect it has on human beings, particularly in the bright colours, where you have the lead content more and these bright colours are what we use in our schools. Children are the most affected, so it borders on consumers as far as CPC is concerned and that is why we are sticking out our neck here to bring down the level of lead in our paint.”

    She urged SON to carry out adequate sensitisation on the proposed reviewed standards, adding that CPC was ready to partner with SON and move into the market for enforcement.

    Her words: “SON is doing a wonderful job because they are the standards body empowered to set the standards so what they are doing is in line with their statutory duty. Manufacturers should be committed to safety and quality,”

    She emphasised that sustained awareness programmes would be needed, adding that once new standard is in place, awareness should be the next line of action. “The public should be enlightened. Buyers should know what they are looking for. Once they are sensitized, you can go ahead to prosecute,” she said.

    Mr. Tosin Dania, an industrialist, praised SON for the initiative, saying that this was the right path to go in ensuring that all the nation’s products meet safety standards. He said the manufacturers should be brought to a better standard where they could compete in the global market.

    “It reposes more confidence in us by our consumers outside the nation and others seeking to buy things from Nigeria. It is good that Nigeria is taking the issue of safety seriously. When you look at the global trend of event now, suppliers themselves are going for certification that can enhance their capacity to meet the need of more stringent clients. Suppliers have to meet safety specifications,” he added.

    For Mr. M. Adefarati, the Technical Committee Chairman, the review was also aimed at harmonising ECOWAS standards to boost intra-African trade.

    “Lead is a toxic pigment. It is very important we need to control this in the environment. Children can eat the paint and if they do, it will affect their nervous system. We have addressed the situation to keep to international standards so that our products will be acceptable all over the world as well as in ECOWAS region.”

    Adefarati advised stakeholders to be in tune with the ever changing technologies while also taking into cognisance safety of consumers and the environment.

    ?”On that basis, we need to exploit other areas that we do not need to use lead pigment in making paints. We advise that the paint manufacturers look for alternatives for lead because we are considering safety.”

    Professor Kehinde Olayinka of the Department of Chemistry, University of Lagos, a Member, Technical Committee, lauded Odumodu, saying that? he had been doing his best by bringing SON out into the open more than ever before.

    She called on the agency to focus on consumer education, saying that the more people understand the benefits of standards, the better for the economy.

  • Honour for ex-VC’s son

    Honour for ex-VC’s son

    The All Africa Students Union has conferred an award on Olawale Soyode, son of the former Vice Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State. Ernest Nwokolo reports.

    The All Africa Students Union based in Accra, Ghana was literally relocated to  Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when its executives hit the ancient town to confer its Africa Ledership Award on Mr. Olawale Soyede, son of the former vice chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.

    The event held at the Continental Suites, Abeokut. Among those who attended were Olawale’s parents; the Alaporu of Ilaporu- Ijebu,  Oba Jimoh Quadri; Assistant Director of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs Olutayo Samuel; the Managing Director, FirstBank Insurance Company, Mr. Val. Ojumah; and former member, House of Representatives, Femi Kehinde.

    The duo of Ologun Ayodeji (Nigerian Representatives, Commonwealth Students Parliament) and Ambassador, Dominique Gullaime, described Olawale as a philanthropist, lover of youths, builder of people and accountant.

    Olawale,  a chartered accountant with the Nigeria Agip Oil Company(NAOC), lauded the group for counting him worthy of the award, which he described as reserved only for the “best of minds on the continent of Africa in the area of astute leadership qualities”.

    He pledged his commitment to the ideals and cause of  the students body.

    Describing the students’leaders as future leaders, he urged them to prepare effectively to enable them fit into leadership positions in education, industry, science, commerce, politics and governance in future.

    He advised them to embibe integrity, accountability, transparency, and honesty in their activities, if they want to succeed in their career and become exemplary leaders in future.

  • Monarch, son, 10 others docked for ‘murder’

    The police have arraigned a traditional ruler, the Baale of Temidire Alagbado, Chief Nojeem Abioye, his son Abioye and 10 others at a Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court, Igbosere, over the death of hotelier, Alhaji Rasaki Olatunji.

    They were charged along with Adeola Ogungbade, 37, Ogundare Ogunsanya, 63, Olanlerewaju Ololade, 62, Bello Lasisi, 60, Ajani Kasali, 54, Oyedele Musiliu, 64, Jonathan Sanyaolu, 68, Taoreed Bakare, 61, Olaidi Albert, 66 and Wahab Abioye, 38.

    Police prosecutor Justin Enang said they allegedly “caused” Olatunji’s death by shooting and attacking him with dangerous weapons.

    The men were also accused of malicious damage, arson, forming “an unlawful assembly and acting in a disorderly manner as to disturb the peace of the community and its environment.”

    The alleged offences contravene Sections 45(2), 221 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Olatunji was reportedly murdered during a riot on July 20 in Alagbado area, which also claimed the life of another victim, Ganiyu Adebayo.

    It was learnt that the riot broke out shortly after a meeting of landlords and community leaders in Alagbado who were said to be angry with Olatunji over his alleged land grabbing activities.

    It was alleged that thugs loyal to Rasak has engaged community youths in a battle after the leaders’ meeting, which led to his being shot.

    The accused persons were arraigned on five counts of conspiracy, rioting, malicious damage, arson and murder.

    Chief Magistrate O.M. Ajayi, remanded the accused persons pending legal advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

  • Why counterfeiting thrives in ports, by SON

    • Says 50% electrical/electronics products are substandard  

    The directive of the Federal Government barring some of its agencies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) from the ports has stalled the campaign against ridding the country of fake/substandard products, its Director-General, Dr Joseph Odumodu, has said.

    He lamented that more than 50 per cent of substandard products in the market are electrical/electronic products,

    Speaking in SON’s Lagos office at the weekend, Odumodu said though the level of sub-standard products in Nigeria has reduced in the last three years, statistics by SON shows that electrical/electronic products constitute over half of the substandard products in the market.

    He lamented that SON has slowed down in its drive to reduce substandard products because the government’s removal of SON at the ports hampered the organisation’s drive for reducing substandard products in Nigeria.

    He said: “Government in its wisdom removed SON from being at the ports. That singular action hampered the drive for reducing substandard products in Nigeria because today we are not at the ports so, we do not even know what is coming into Nigeria.”

    Odumodu however, said SON has devised an alternative in form of segmentation of the market in a bid to rid the country of substandard products. The organisation, he said, is complementing this with the launch, this month, of a campaign called Operation Flush that would focus on electrical/electronic products and other segments of the market where substandard products are found.

     

  • How Nyako, son, aide looted Adamawa, by EFCC

    How Nyako, son, aide looted Adamawa, by EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday narrated how former Adamawa State  governor  Murtala Nyako, his son, Abdulaziz (a serving senator), and two of the ex-governor’s aides allegedly looted  billions of public funds.

    Facing trial with them  at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja are Zulkifikk Abba (Nyako’s ex-political adviser), Abubakar Aliyu and five companies in which they allegedly have interests.

    The companies are Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms & Extension Ltd, Pagoda Fortunes Ltd, Tower Assets Management Ltd and Crust Energy Ltd.

    They were slammed with a 37-count charge of conspiracy, money laundering and abuse of office.

    The commission  in its counter-affidavit to the accused persons’ bail application at the court, said that  it would be out of place to grant them bail in view of the gravity of their offences.

    It also claimed that  the ‘mysterious deaths’ of two of its witnesses – Ma’aji Mohammed Iro and Abdulmalik Dalhatu – “has instilled fear in other prospective witnesses in this case.”

    Iro was, until his death, a Regional Manager with Zenith Bank.

    He was said to be in charge of Adamawa State Government’s accounts with the bank, and allegedly assisted the accused persons  in laundering billions  of naira from the state’s coffers.

    The EFCC  said: “The 1st and 2nd accused persons (Nyako and Abaduaziz)  are the owners of the 6th accused (Sebore Farms & Extension Limited), which they operated by themselves.  Several fictitious contracts, running into billions of naira, were awarded to the said 6th accused while the 1st accused was governor of Adamawa State. One Ma’aji Mohammed Iro was in charge of the accounts of Adamawa State with Zenith Bank.

    “On the instruction of the 1st accused, Ma’aji Mohammed Iro made several cash lodgments running into billions of naira into the accounts of several companies and individuals including the accounts of the 6th to 9th accused (Blue Opal Ltd, Sebore Farms & Extension Ltd, Pagoda Fortunes Ltd, Tower Assets Management Ltd and Crust Energy Ltd) all from the accounts of Adamawa State Government for no specific reason.

    “On the instruction of the 1st accused, N698,408,011.62 was paid from the account of Adamawa State Government with Zenith Bank into the account of the 6th accused (Sebore Farms and Extension ltd) with the same bank to service and liquidate the loan of N500 million obtained by the 6th accused.

    “Another sum of N160m was deposited into the account of Agrited Nigeria Ltd on the instruction of the 1st accused from the account of the Adamawa State Government with no contract rendered to the state.

    “Several moneys running into over N5 billion of Adamawa State funds were transferred to the 9th accused (Crust Energy Ltd) mostly on the instruction of the 1st accused.

    “About N240 million of Adamawa State was invested by the 7th accused – Pagoda Fortunes Ltd  (a company owned by a son of the 1st accused) in Hill View Estate, Abuja, an estate owned by the 2nd accused (Abdulaziz Nyako).

    “The 3rd accused (Zulkifikk Abba), who is a political adviser to the 1st accused, is the owner of Alpharetta  Farms Ltd, one of the companies through which funds of Adamawa State was stolen. The 3rd accused is a director in the 9th accused (Crust Energy Ltd), a company controlled by the 2nd accused and through which several billion of naira belonging to Adamawa State was stolen.

    “The 4th accused (Abubakar Aliyu) is a signatory to several accounts of the 5th accused (Blue Opal Ltd), through which several monies running into billions of naira from the funds of Adamawa State Government were laundered to develop Hill View Estate, Abuja.”

    However, Justice Evoh Chukwu  rejected EFCC’s objection and granted bail to the accused persons at N350 million with either two sureties or one, who is a director in any Federal Government’s establishment.

    The sureties, the judge said, must own landed property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), show evidence of tax payment for the last three years and must swear to affidavit of means. The accused persons are to deposit their travel documents with the court.

  • ‘NDA killed my son’

    ‘NDA killed my son’

    A retired Wing Commander with the Nigeria Air Force, Danladi Angulu Kwasu has accused the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) of deliberately drowning his 19-year old son, Elshadai Kwasu (NDA/10037) in a 100 metre-deep lake during a training session.

    Kwasu, representing Zangon Kataf in the Kaduna State House of Assembly alleged that about 20 cadets have died in swimming exercise due to negligence and the NDA did nothing to change the situation.

    He said: “My son died of drowning occasioned by gross negligence on April 30. The NDA took them for a camping exercise (Camp Highland) and in the course of the exercise, a worker pushed him into the deepest part of the Kangimi Dam.

    “He was pushed into this deep water from a high platform. A rope was tied loosely around his waist with another person standing on the platform above the water and holding unto the other end of the rope.

    “Before he was pushed, he expressed his reservations on using a rope as a safety measure since he had never swam before; the worker overheard him and while still on the platform, the same worker pushed him into the water suddenly and in the process, the loose rope around his waist was further loosened.

    “When Elshadai disappeared, the worker watched helplessly, none of the trainers could dive to rescue my son; there was no life jacket, no lifeguard or diver to save the boy. Local fishermen were called to use their fish hooks to search and my son was accidentally hooked in his mouth and his corpse brought to the surface after three hours.

    “I am compelled to speak because my efforts to be shown the video and get an official brief have been to no avail. I will not keep quiet; I will do all to address this impunity and incompetence as displayed by the NDA.

    “My son is not the first to drown; not less than 20 officer cadets have suffered this faith and nothing was done to prevent a recurrence”.

    NDA commandant Major Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Idris said: “We shall state our side of the story tomorrow (today). We will call the press tomorrow morning and explain what happened”.