Fake products: SON raids Anambra markets, supermarkets

The Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) has warned traders in and around Onitsha to desist from making it difficult for its operatives to enter the Onitsha Main Market in particular and other markets in the area to discharge their lawful duty.

This word of caution came from the leader of SON in Anambra state, Mr Samuel Ayuba Ushe when he led the regulatory agency’s team on routine field inspection of markets in the commercial city on Monday.

Mr Ushe was optimistic that SON would win the war against unwholesome, expired, adulterated, fake and substandard products in the state, despite all odds.

The team which also raided several supermarkets and open markets across major cities and commercial centres in Anambra state to mop all fake, expired, adulterated and substandard products, according to Mr Ushe was in constant touch with market leaders and other stakeholders to ensure quality products in Anambra markets.

According to him, the regulatory agency discovered that most markets and supermarkets in state still sold unwholesome products to unsuspecting consumers.

He confirmed that they would not relent in confiscating such products, and that the agency would prosecute the defaulters at once.

Mr Ushe said the agency raided the Iron-Rod Market Atani, near Onitsha where specimen of some rods confiscated in the market were taken to the agency’s laboratory for quality testing and analysis.

He said the visit to the Iron-rod market has indeed become necessary in view of the incessant building collapse in the state that has assumed disturbing rate in recent time.

He revealed that they also sealed a tyre warehouse in Onitsha for selling substandard tyres, noting that in all, their action was to prevent further circulation of unwholesome products and therefore save lives of citizens.

SON, he pointed out had been carrying out quality assurance inspections as routine to check companies in the state to ensure they complied with set standards.

He decried the attitude of some companies that bar SON officials from entering their premises for routine inspections.

From Chuks Collins, Awka

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