Body reduces importation of substandard products by 35%, says DG

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says it has reduced the importation of substandard products into the country from 80 to 35 per cent with the introduction of "Operation Flush.’’

The Director-General of SON, Dr Joseph Odumodu, made the assertion in his message to a seminar by SON in collaboration with the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA).

The programme with the theme, "SON e-Certificate Transaction’’ held on Wednesday in Lagos.

Represented by Mr Isa Suleiman, the Deputy Director, Ports Operations, Odumodu said the organisation was determined to reduce the percentage to 10.

"This, however, requires the cooperation and collaboration of all,’’ he said.

He stressed the need for collective security, adding that all products the endangered life should be eliminated from the nation’s environment.

Odumodu said that all substandard products remained unsafe to lives and property, adding that they were disincentive to investment, employment and economic drive.

"We are sensitising customs brokers, customs agents and freight forwarders operating at Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

"We are training them on how to integrate into Nigeria Intelligent Customs Information System (NICIS) and Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) of the Nigeria Customs Service covering all SON’s certificates to electronic format.

He said that with the training, clearing agents and freight forwarders could seat in their offices and operate clearing process.

The SON director-general said that the effort was to eliminate direct and human conduct of SON offices for clarification process on providing HS Code.

In a massage, the National President of ANLCA, Alhaji Olaiwola Shittu, represented by Chief Babatope Ogungbemile, commended the support from SON which, he said, had been yielding fruits in their operations.

"The reason for the seminar is for the improvement of the association and its relationship with SON.

"ANLCA is peculiar to SON because we deal with baggage, luggage and other services not limited to cargo clearing at sea port.

"Collaborating with SON for training of our members has never happened in the history of the association,’’ Shittu said.

He, however, urged the members to ask questions on areas they encountered difficulties when processing the SON e-processes.

Also speaking, the Chairman of ANLCA, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Chapter, Chief Aloy Igwe, commended SON for bringing the sensitisation first to his chapter.

He said that with the training their members would know how to go about processing their clearances and reduce time of doing business