NIGERIA – The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has destroyed expired and substandard goods worth Five Million naira (US$ 12039) at the government approved dumpsite in Gombe State, in a continuation of its bid to sanitise the nation of substandard products.
The products destroyed include assorted soft drinks, energy drinks, flavoured drinks and other products mopped up during market surveillance activities conducted by the SON Gombe State office between October 2021 and April 2022.
Market surveillance is one of the statutory activities SON utilises in checking the quality of goods in the Nigerian market.
In a move to safeguard public health in the state, the products were confiscated and marked for destruction after laboratory tests conducted found them to have expired, and therefore substandard and not fit for consumption.
“It is quite unfortunate that these goods are being destroyed considering the huge amount of money involved in purchasing these goods. However, it is necessary to protect lives,” said the State Coordinator Gombe State, Mr. James Yakzum who represented the Regional Director, SON North East, Mr. Abba Bauchi Adamu.
Mr. Yakzum further disclosed SON’s plans to train distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and vendors of products in the state on standard practices.
This will enable them drastically reduce wastages in the marketplace, thereby giving value for money and at the same time protecting the lives of consumers.
The representative of the Regional Coordinator of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Mr. Charles Sharah present at the destruction site, commended SON for destroying the goods with regards to environmental safety standards, as no adverse effect is posed to the environment due to the destruction.
Similarly, the representative of Soft Drinks Vendors in Gombe state, Alhaji M. Abdulhakim lauded SON for doing a good job.
He assured that vendors in the state will collaborate with the organization to ensure that drink vendors in the state are enlightened more about standards and quality assurance.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Sani Babayo, Chairman of Supermarket, Stores and Mall Owners Association, Gombe State, declared that the association was ready to cooperate with SON and other government agencies in ensuring that customers in Gombe state get a good deal at all times.
Representatives of government agencies such as Directorate of State Security, NESREA and the Civil Defence Corp and members of staff of the SON Gombe State Office also participated in the destruction.
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