The Standards Organization of Nigeria, (SON) on Monday raised the alarm that some local manufacturers have developed the fraudulent habit of reducing the quality of their products soon after obtaining the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) Certificate of the agency.
Head of the agency in Ekiti state, Mrs Serah Idowu said in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti that henceforth, anyone caught perpetuating such fraudulent act, with intent to mislead the consuming public would be exposed, blacklisted and made to face other consequences.
She said due to the observed sharp practices, the validity period for the SON certificate of conformity which was 3 years from the date of issue in the first instance, shall henceforth be periodically put under surveillance to monitor continuous conformity to standards
“It must be noted that SON reserves the right to withdraw certificates and logo for any certified company that fails to maintain standards that previously qualified them for certification”, she said.
According to her, the category of manufacturers and producers currently under close surveillance for the act include block makers, electrical items manufacturers, soft drink makers, local juice producers, yogurt producers as well as iron and steel makers among others.
The News Agency of Nigeria,(NAN) reports that Consequently, she said the agency has resolved to intensify its Quality Assurance exercises like; Factory Inspections, Regular feedbacks, Market Survey, Product Registration, Laboratory Tests and Analysis in the new year.
Other areas of priority in the new year, according to her are; Measurements for accuracy, stringent conditions for locally made products and its sister off-shore Conformity Assessmenr for imported Products as well as Consumer Complaints and Resolution among others.
She explained that the significance of sandcrete blocks and concrete in the building and construction Industry in the country, like in many other economies would also be accorded special attention to reduce incidences of building collapse.
She said this had become necessary as part of the concerted efforts of the federal government towards ensuring rapid growth in its socio-economic endeavours.
“The most recent review of the Nigeria Industrial Standard for Sandcrete Block Moulding NIS 587:2007 was aimed at addressing the germane issue of load bearing in response to the worrisome spate of buildings and other structural collapses in recent years.
“This will ultimately guarantee affordable and safe housing as well as other building infrastructure
“This has thus made the need for standards as benchmark for the quality of sandcrete blocks and concrete being produced, marketed and used for buildings and other construction works most imperative
“The agency is demonstrating all of these in prompt compliance to a directive of the Minister of Industry Trade and Investment that full implementation of the MANCAP program by SON should commence immediately and in particular for Sandcrete Blocks all over the Nation”, she said.
She therefore called on all Sandcrete Block Moulders in Ekiti State as well as all other local manufacturers to quickly subscribe to the MANCAP certification and maintain the standard in order to ensure that their products met the minimum requirements of the applicable Nigeria Industrial standards
She submitted that meeting such requirements meant that blocks and other products must not only be safe but also durable and offer value for customers’ money.
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