The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) on Thursday raided Yankura Market in Kano and sealed off shop and a warehouse where new and branded fertilizer bags with SON certification logo were being sold.
The Director-General of SON, Malam Faruk Salim, who led the exercise, said the raid was done to rid the nation of fake and substandard products that could be harmful to human lives.
Represented by the acting State Coordinator, Mr. Murtala Sa’ad, he promised to make the exercise a regular one across the nation so as to stop persons selling fake products from circulating them.
Salim explained that the market shop and warehouse had brand new fertilizer bags with SON certification logo which he said could be probably used for re-bagging of adulterated fertilizers.
According to him, 15,106 customized brands of Indorama fertilizer company bags and packaging materials where discovered and quarantined.
He said that the organization was particularly worried about the presence of fake and adulterated fertilizers in Kano markets.
He added that SON had engaged stakeholders in an effort to curb the menace of fake fertilizer in Kano markets.
He also restated the commitment of the organization to rid the state and country of fake, unwholesome and substandard products.
Some dealers and distributors of fertilizer, who spoke to NAN, appreciated the objectives and role of SON in ensuring products manufactured in Nigeria compete in quality with best brands anywhere in the world.
They also promised to cooperate and share intelligence with the organization in order to rid the market of substandard fertilizers.
They also commended the efforts of the director-general of SON and the compliance team in their resolve toward ensuring that manufacturers adopted best practices.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise caught dealers of new and branded bags with SON certification logo unawares.
The officials of SON were accompanied by NSCDC personnel to seal off the shop and warehouse. (NAN)
