‘We have zero-tolerance for product counterfeiting’ - SON

The Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Mallam Farouk Salim addressed a news conference at the weekend to mark the World Standards Day. He spoke on the prospects and challenges of running a regulatory agency with oversight functions for monitoring and setting standards in the country. Jill Okeke was there. Excerpts:

The theme of this year’s World Standard Day is ‘Standard for Sustainable Development Goals’ can you expatiate on this?

Yes, the 2022 edition of the World Standards Day, like others before it, comes with some measures of innovation and benefits, which would go a long way in impacting positively on world economies. The event with the theme, ‘Standards for Sustainable Development Goals’ aligns with the United Nations goals of enhancing economic growth in countries across the world in the next few decades. A lot of people hear standards but have no idea how it affects their lives. Every individual has to live with standards every day. It may be cultural standards, religious standards, physical or scientific standards and so on. Standards are the reason why we are human beings. When there is chaos it means standards have been compromised. Standards are the basics of our lives. Countries across the world including Nigeria, benefit a lot by ensuring sustainable economy as well as improved public awareness on safety and standards in our daily activities

What effort is SON making towards boosting the economy and sustaining it?

This year’s anniversary is going to be a landmark for Nigeria as we transit from an emerging to developed market in the future. SON is the apex regulatory agency established by the Federal Government with primary focus on standardisation.

Interestingly, SON has lived up to its mandate as an agency by raising awareness on the need for standardisation of products as well as focus on the three components of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: economic, social and environmental.SON is aware that today’s businesses are dealing with a complex brew of social, environmental, market and technological trends. So, we elaborate and adopt standards to help businesses thrive and grow while simultaneously solving some parts of their biggest challenges.

We are making serious efforts towards economic and industrial growth of the country. We conduct capacity building for manufacturers and MSMEs. We have a package called MANCAP, a process of factory monitoring, certification, training and technical support to manufacturers. All these efforts are to ensure consumers have confidence in products and services as well as check counterfeiting and dumping. We are deploying standards to promote sustainable growth.

What roles can standardisation in the quest for job creation?

You should know that jobs are normally created when our local industries operate optimally. What we are doing is to ensure that standards and quality products are produced or imported into Nigeria. With standardisation, local industries including medium and small-scale enterprises produce goods that are safe for consumption, accepted and competitive everywhere and consumers have confidence in what they buy, manufacturers produce more, employ more personnel and everybody including the nation’s economy would benefit. So, standardisation is good for business and industrial growth, job and employment opportunities as well as improved revenue. It also attracts more investments and export trade.

How has SON supported MSMEs thus far?

Small and medium scale enterprises are the real drivers of industrial and economic growth in many countries across the world. We are supporting and assisting MSMEs massively. We give them discounts and waivers, register and certify their products. We provide capacity building trainings for their staff. MSMEs operators are parts and parcel of our standards development. They are co-opted into our technical committees that develop, review and elaborate standards of products. We are doing a lot to support the sector for economic growth of the nation. We have since realised their importance in industrial and economic development including economic diversification of the Federal Government.

There is renewed drive for renewable energy in the country today. How is SON supporting this quest?

The thinking is that if we fix the energy sector right, it will go a long way to solve the nation’s productivity challenges. In connection with that SON in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) recently built and commissioned test laboratory for renewable energy products. We also launched renewable energy standards to boost confidence of end-users and consumers of products in the renewable energy sector. We are also encouraging foreign direct investment (FDI) to the sector. We focus on the sector in order to create jobs, increase capacities of manufacturing companies and attract investments.

The standards for equipment would make the sector compete with on-grid power distribution companies across the country and ultimately encourage efficient and regular power supply. The renewable energy standards we have put in place would boost power demand, supply, capacities and reliability across the country. Stakeholders in the sector should embrace what we are doing.

Let me also add that renewable energy and energy efficiency are for healthy living and better environment. Naturally, when you increase access to power supply, you are creating a better environment, boost wealth creation and industrialisation. Renewable energy supports these. We have developed standards for solar, batteries, metres and so on. These will encourage investment to the sector and boost consumer confidence. We want to ensure that we monitor activities in the sector to guide against proliferation of substandard products and services. We started powering most of offices with off-grid facilities to support healthy environment


What are the present conditions of SON LABS?

We have laboratories and all of them are in good conditions and properly accredited. We have a renewable energy laboratory in Lagos, we have NMI in Enugu. We also have an engineering lab in Enugu, textile lab in Kaduna, electrical lab, food, chemical labs and many others spread across the country. We will soon launch some mobile testing laboratories and these labs will go to rural areas to conduct product test, taking testing to the grassroots and hinterlands will expand farm produce and the impact on the economy will be enormous. We are also working to build zonal labs for operators to get easy access.

How can we reduce rejection of local products at the international markets?

Of course, you should know that SON is the key regulator for standards and quality in the country and we represent Nigeria in all international standards bodies like ISO, ARSO, IEC, etc. So we know what the importing countries want. In that regard, we are enlightening and sensitising the SMEs operators and manufacturers to adhere to standards in their processes including packaging in order for their products to be accepted and competitive. It will shock you to know that we have standards either adopted or elaborated for various goods and services in Nigeria. We have 42 offices across the country and we are sensitising and training industry players on standardisation. I can tell you there is great improvement in terms of local manufacturers adhering to standards. We do not have problems with local manufacturers because they are monitored from raw materials to finished products stages. However, our biggest challenge is with the imported products which come in through unofficial borders.

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What is SON doing to ensure certification of products for exports?

Yes, we are playing key role in the elaboration and certification of products for both local and export markets. So, in that wise we are working relentlessly to sensitise stakeholders to adhere to standards. We are also collaborating with the relevant sister agencies to promote speedy process for exports, and this will help to increase the nation’s non-oil exports and diversify the economy. We have regulatory instruments and regimes such as MANCAP for local products, SONCAP for imported ones, quality marks, NIS, and so on. So, we are actually doing a lot to ensure that Nigeria gets exportable products that conform to international best practices and standards.

The issue of product counterfeiting has remained one hard nut to crack. How is tackling this menace?

Let me tell you clearly that sub-standard products not only endanger lives and property but also have rippled negative effects on the economy of any country. Having said that I want to assure you that Nigeria as a country will not be a dumping ground for such products. What we have been doing is to try to tighten the noose at entry points, track such products there, test them and confiscate them as the case may be. If the products are not allowed to enter our markets, then they cannot circulate. We seize sub-standard products and get rid of them through public destruction exercises. So, let me reiterate again that Nigeria cannot be a dumping ground of such products.

SON was sent out of the seaport in previous dispensation over certain issues. Now that it has returned what mechanisms have you put in place to guard against such reoccurrence?

SON was not sent out of the ports in 2011 among other agencies because it was causing congestion, rather the axe fell on them as a uniform directive. SON by its enabling Act N0.14: 2015 has been mandated to be at all entry points of the country viz sea, land and air borders, to ensure that substandard goods do not find their way into the country. This is an onerous task that only officers trained in standardisation activities can render failure which the citizens will be dangerously exposed to the effects of their consumption. No nation can afford to abandon this responsibility to untrained hands. Basically, we are the only organisation clearly stated in the constitution to be in charge of standards.

Originally, we supposed to be at the port and also use the trade portal window view everything happening in the port including import licensing and so on. If you may recall, we exited the ports 12 years ago and our coming back will be more useful to the nation. We engaged a company to help us conduct a study of what the situation in Nigeria is right now with a view to see how much progress we are making. To expedite SON’s clearance procedures, we have position our staff to do joint examination of containers with other agencies at the ports at minimal time and follow up with the importers at their warehouses if necessary. Interestingly, the joint examination enables our officers to physically inspect the goods, obtain necessary documents covering the imports which will fasten our post examination clearance. We have a capacity to handle any questionable consignment or container with ease. We have facilities and trained officers to ensure our activities in port are in line with the Ease of Doing Business mantra of the Federal Government. Ii can tell you for a fact that we have been judged as the number one organisation in terms of Ease of Doing Business by PEBEC which is a council under the Vice President Office. We do not disrupt business but facilitate business and we are very efficient.

If you have any infraction how do you intend to handle it? Do you have the facility to handle it outside the ports or do you detain the container?

Yes, we have facilities and a big warehouse in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, where questionable containers and consignment are moved to for further investigation and also take products to our laboratory to make sure the products are up to standards. We had a training just concluded recently on how our staff can be customer-friendly with other agencies. They are under strict supervision and we are in the process of acquiring body cameras very soon whereby every staff would have to put it on during working hours to avoid shoddy activities.

What is the mode of operation now?

When you are at the Ports, the Customs have to give you access to physically go with them. Nigeria Ports Authority has to physically give you an office to do paperwork and other necessary things, it is not possible for people to work at the ports when there is no office for them, that means they will miss out on all the activities happening. The ports are been operated almost on 24hours daily to ensure efficient service delivery. So, SON is going to collaborate with other agencies at the ports.



We appreciate the managements of the NSC, NPA and other but still hope better support

Do you think SON should issue stiffer penalties to deter importers of substandard goods?

We follow the rules and what the laws have given us, as we speak, we are trying to see how we can change some of our Acts and charge them more penalty and damages. Real damage and prosecutions are handled by the government, Ministry of Justice and the justice legal system. Our job is to arrest and hand them over to the judges who are better placed to mete the required punishment and penalties as the case may be. Of course, we have to sensitise the public on the laws and penalties so that they can understand the enormity and consequences of the offence.

How has SON been able to key into the UN Sustainable Development Goals?

We just launched a lab that test solar batteries and inverters. In the process SON participated with foreign organisation together with stakeholders here in Nigeria to set standards for solar-powered electricity, from panels, inverters and so on. These standards were launched last year in Nigeria. We are contributing in setting the standards and testing products both made in Nigeria and imported. We are setting standards by guiding and training people on how to do things.

Do you think MSMES are more inclined to fulfill standards compared to multinationals?

Everybody needs standards. The only difference is how we sell standards to them. A big industry that needs standards is charged for it whereas small companies are charged too but at a subsidised rate. We help them with certification, packaging, marketing. We have small scale entrepreneurs who have won prizes for themselves by following these standards and once you get to a level where you cannot afford the fees for the standardisation of your products, we can elect to do it free of charge. We work with local industries of some states of the federation to help small scale industries. It is important because borders are going to be opened.

SON has forged a synergy of cooperation with state governors in its quest to boost small businesses. How sustainable is this partnership?

We have a whole department in charge of that. We have a recommendation from the Vice President in charge of SMEs. Our departments are really doing their best in helping out.

What are your expectations from the public as SON turns 50?

We want the industry to know that we are here to help them. I want a situation whereby when a SON employee appears, people are happy to see them and believe that with SON staff they can find solution to their problems. Equally, I want the public to understand that without them, we will not be able to do our jobs. Substandard products should be reported or returned. Know your right! The people and institution we serve can help donate facilities and equipment, donate laboratory and operational vehicles and so on. We want the public to know that we need more facilities across the country and better cooperation and collaboration even more.

SON like other institutions is not without its own challenges. Can you shed light on some of them?

Life itself is full of challenges as you know. Government is trying its best to make sure SON is at par with other standard bodies but there are still some challenges such as funding to build more labs across the country, infrastructure, more trained staff, fighting influx of substandard products, standardisation and ensuring quality assurance culture.

My parting words is this: today’s businesses are dealing with a complex brew of social, environmental, market and technological trends. Standards is the way to go. It can help businesses to thrive and make real difference in the world within and around us.