The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has intensified its campaign against substandard products across the South-East, reaffirming its commitment to consumer safety and fair trade practices.
Head of South-East Regional Operations, Mr. Chukwuma Aharanwa, disclosed this in Abakaliki during a sensitisation walk to mark the 2025 World Standards Day. The awareness rally, which began at the Abakaliki Township Stadium and ended at the Margaret Umahi International Market, aimed to educate traders and consumers on the dangers of fake and substandard products.
Aharanwa said substandard goods remain a major threat to public health and safety, adding that SON would not relent in its effort to sanitise the markets.
“We are telling the public to steer clear of substandard products because of their dangers to health and safety,” he said. “Through our conformity assessment programmes, we are ensuring that both imported and locally made products meet national and international quality standards.”
He explained that the agency is implementing key initiatives such as the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) for locally manufactured goods and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) for imported products to guarantee product quality and compliance.
SON Ebonyi State Coordinator, Mrs. Maryrose Ugwueche, noted that many companies in the region have already secured MANCAP certification as proof of product quality.
“We are working to ensure that every product in the market is certified before it gets to consumers,” she said, stressing that ongoing sensitisation efforts are strengthening collaboration between SON and market stakeholders to promote a culture of standardisation.
