…As SON holds sensitisation programme for importers
Babajide Okeowo
President of Association of Nigerian Customs Agents (ANLCA), Iju Tony Nwabunike, has asserted that freight forwarders and customs brokers in Nigeria lost the sum of N20 billion Naira to substandard products in the last ten years.
He made this assertion during a stakeholders’ meeting organized by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON on the Facilitation of Trade through SON’s automated services.
In his words, “Over time, custom brokers have been victims of substandard importations by importers who in some cases failed to disclose to us the actual content or degree of compliance with extant rules like SON Conformity Assessment Programmes (SONCAP). The influx of these illicit products in addition to being injurious to our national economy also spells doom for our people” he said.
He revealed that due to the copious challenge faced in the line of their business, the association has taken it upon itself to educate importers on the need for their compliance to safeguard lives and avoid losses emanating from seizures and destruction of fake substandard goods.
“The task is daunting but we are not relenting because customs brokers have suffered estimated cumulative losses amounting to over N20bn in the last ten years for undertaking to clear goods discovered to be substandard.
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This is just a mild analogy of the costly price was professionals are paying to achieve standards and build an enduring economy that will be beneficial to all” he added.
On his part, the Director-General of the Standards Organization of Nigeria, SON, Osita Aboloma charged importers to desist from importing substandard products capable of maiming and killing Nigerians.
Aboloma who was represented by the Director, Inspector and Compliance Directorate, ICD, Obiora Manafa also revealed that the Organization is not happy destroying people’s products.
“SON is not out to get importers, we are only interested in safeguarding lives and properties of Nigerians. Importers should also endeavour to apply for their SONCAP certificate before the arrival of their products in Nigeria” he said.
Manafa also charged ANLCA, and National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF to sensitize their members on compliance with the directives of the organization to ensure the safety of lives and properties.
