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The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has charged Nigerian importers to venture into manufacturing not only to generate wealth, but also to create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in the country.
The import regulatory agency of government explained to the importers that establishing manufacturing outfits would go a long way to save the country’s foreign exchange since some of the things that were imported into the country could be manufactured locally.
Osita Aboloma, Director General SON, gave the charge at a one-day sensitisation programme with importers and dealers of electronics in Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos, advising the importers to get the required standards to make their products competitive.
The director general who was represented at the event by Obiora Manafa, director, Inspectorate and Compliance Directorate, noted that with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) accented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerian manufacturers must up their game to avoid being overwhelmed by foreign goods.
“Adhering to standards was the surest way to bring back the glory days of Alaba International Market,” he said, assuring that SON was ready to work with local manufacturers to make their goods exportable in a bid to earn foreign exchange for the Nigerian economy.
“Instead of faking established brands, build your own brands and make money from it. We are also advising that you go into manufacturing; we cannot continue to depend on import; many big importers have gone into manufacturing. Nigerian cables are the best, why should we import,” he wondered.
He noted that the machinery to produce cables are not too expensive, assuring further that they were open anytime to help the importers to select the materials and the equipment to enable them to start producing. “This is better for you and for the economy at large,” he stressed.
According to him, the fight against substandard products was a big one, saying that a lot of people were in detention for dealing in substandard products to serve as deterrent to importers who had intentions to indulge in the nefarious act.
He disclosed that SON had in its warehouse substandard electric cables waiting for court order to be destroyed, while also restating its commitment to bring down the influx of substandard goods into the country.
The director general noted that the cable market was a huge one filled with a lot of smugglers bringing in goods without SONCAP certificates. “We fish out these people by going to their warehouses and even outside the market. It is a continuous fight and we are really making progress,” he added.
He stated that electronic dealers had agreed to join hands with SON to fish out the bad eggs giving Alaba International Market a bad name, saying that the workshop was aimed at bringing back the lost glory of the biggest market in West Africa.
Earlier, the leadership of the Alaba International Amalgamated Traders Association and Electrical Dealers Association of Nigeria (EDAN) had commended SON’s integrity, capacity for work and tireless contribution towards ensuring that the market stood out as an exemplary leading market with quality assurance practices.
They pointed that the agency’s sensitisation visits had created positive impact in the manufacturing industry, pledging the association’s readiness to collaborate with SON to drive its zero tolerance for substandard imports into the country.
CHUKA UROKO
