By Milcah Tanimu

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has carried out extensive raids across markets in Lagos State, confiscating counterfeit and substandard tyres, solar batteries, and baby feeding bottles estimated to be worth billions of naira.

In a statement released by the organization, the crackdown on substandard goods is part of SON’s ongoing campaign to eradicate harmful products from the Nigerian market.

Ifeanyi Okeke, the Director-General of SON, highlighted that the seized tyres had been damaged during shipment, compromising their quality due to improper stuffing into containers.

During the raids, Pius Manji, representing Okeke, explained that the aim was to prevent these compromised tyres from entering the market, stressing that stuffing them into containers led to a significant deterioration in quality, rendering them unsuitable for use upon arrival in Nigeria.

Furthermore, scientific testing revealed that the seized solar batteries failed to meet SON’s standards, despite bearing the logos of reputable brands.

Okeke underscored the importance of consumers receiving value for their money, particularly with products like solar batteries, amid the increasing global focus on renewable energy sources.

Expressing concern, Okeke also addressed the issue of counterfeit baby feeding bottles, warning manufacturers of fake products that SON would take decisive action to maintain product quality and protect consumer interests.

In another development, SON has approved 80 standards for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as part of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative. These standards aim to promote safer, more reliable, and environmentally sustainable energy solutions, covering various aspects of CNG utilization from production to appliance compatibility.