John Nwokocha
19 April 2005
opinion
SON's new initiative to fight importation of substandard good is bold.
AT the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) Certificate presentation held on February 9, 2005, the Minister of Industries, Ambassador Magaji Mohammed, in a written speech which he entitled Economic Revitalisation through Standardisation, literally expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in the renewed crusade against fake and sub-standard products. The minister observed that much progress and impact have been made by the SON, while underscoring the pivotal role of standards in the health and economic wellbeing of the country.
However, the persistent incidence of trade malpractice and related economic crimes through the importation and circulation of fake and sub-standard products which have continued to frustrate government's efforts at revitalising the domestic economy need not be over- emphasised That the unwholesome act of economic sabotage has ruined our once thriving industries and businesses cannot be disputed, neither is it still in doubt that these unpatriotic activities are impacting negatively on the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
It is incontrovertible that maintaining high standards is an economic booster. And that is if strictly complied with standards specifications, as it will not only encourage production of goods but also enhance marketability and quality of made in Nigeria products, which is why I will not agree less with the minister who must have felt quite impressed by SON's profile pat on the back.
Counterfeit syndrome
Watching the rising phenomenon of fake and adulterated products, even concealment and fake declaration of goods; wrong labelling, deceptive advertising, manipulation and falsification of documents, all result from non- compliance with standard specifications, one will appreciate that it is no less a challenge getting the people to comply and that, Dr John Akanya, Director-General of SON, does not deserve less praise
In less than two years, SON has approved hundreds of products standards and specifications aimed at regulating product quality in Nigeria.
These standards are also meant to protect the consumer and public interest. What it implies of course, is that the consumer gets value for his money by receiving the exact measure of what he pays for. Actually, SON recently set standards for 118 new products which has the minister's approval and have been signed into law. Also worthy of note is a subsisting agreement which SON signed with a world reputable standards body - the American Society for Test Methods (ASTM), with a profile of over 12,000 product standards of international application. In fact, the good news is that SON has adopted these standards for use in Nigeria, where there is no equivalent local standards.
However, beyond all these, the real issue to my mind, is the initiative by SON to carry the fight against sub-standard products beyond the country's borders. Because as rightly observed by the minister, importers and smugglers of fake products are rubbishing the efforts of SON, and unless this tribe of economic saboteurs are checkmated ,the steps taken by the organization will not yield the expected results. But who will deal with these unscrupulous Nigerians?
I am aware that SON is now battle-ready for imported products that fall below standards but are fraudulently labeled made in Nigeria. Indeed, the minister hinted on a novel strategy to tackle the problem. The minister hinted also that the measure is known as Off-shore Product Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP), and that it aims at arresting the ugly trend of movement of substandard products manufactured abroad and massively imported into the country . However, I am not aware that the programme has taken off the ground, but I think this is a phase in the fight against fake products that requires swift approach, if the successes recorded by SON are to be sustained. We understand that those behind these unholy acts operate like a mafia, and I believe strongly that SON has all that is required to unmask them and hand them over to the EFCC for prosecution over economic crimes .
Solid step
All that I can reasonably deduce from the information I have on SONCAP is combating counterfeit products at source, which means that all products will be tested in the country of origin for conformity with minimum international standards. Of course, failure of standard parameters will render such products inadmissible into Nigeria's ports.
Firmness of purpose is like a catalyst that will drive the programme to attain success.
I vote for this measure of combating fraud. But may I quickly add that it will be a complete lack of appreciation of the complexities of the obstacles involved. It takes huge funding to begin with, for a clinical execution of this initiative .I am not aware that SON can boast of the kind of money needed for the project to produce positive results. For it will amount to sheer dream if the project dies on the drawing board either for lack of funds or lack of will to execute it. Of course the Director-General also has to generate and prudently manage the organisaton's funds. To be a leader no doubt is an onerous responsibility, but the Akanya we all know easily possesses these qualities and he is succeeding in spite of the odds found in public service. In Nigeria of today, only far-sighted and focused leaders should be appointed into sensitive positions. Unfortunately for us, real men are more often not considered .
However , since Nigerians die needlessly from using or taking fake products, efforts should be doubled to get SONCAP started since the over all objective is to arrest life-endangering consumer items targeting the Nigeria market While the SONCAP strategy has been designed to avoid goods being burnt on arrival where they are found to fall below standards and a huge loss to the economy, I make bold to say that the same programme is working well for the Saudi Arabian Standards Organisaton. So is the strategy doing in Ghana and Kenya. I believe that it will be a success in Nigeria. It cannot afford to be different if we are allowed to judge from the pedigree of its proponents.
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