The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has called on Nigerians to have Zero Tolerance to substandard products.
The Director General/ Chief Executive Officer of SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, made the call in Ibadan at a sensitisation forum on liquified petroleum gas plants operators and Retailers with theme: Implementation of Standard Organisation Of Nigeria Policy on Zero Tolerance on Used LPG cylinders and Storage Tanks.
“You will recall that many lives and properties of huge economic worth have been lost over years. We have indeed suffered from issues arising from gas explosion due to the use of bad cylinders, substandard tanks. The time has come to put our acts right and end the terrible nightmare.”
The regional coordinator, represented by Mr. Dele Ayeni, said the organisation will not fold its arms or close eyes and see things go haywire and turn upside down while some people who pose themselves as friends short-changed the laws and endanger lives and properties of fellow compatriots through the importation, distributions, sales and retailing of substandard products.
He said in winning the battle, SON must function as a watchdog and ensure diligent monitoring, compliance and implementation of the dictates of the standard.
“We will not relent in seizure and lock ups of shops and warehouses which will also attract penalty but we want to partner with you through an effective relationship with your associations that will lead to combating the issues of sales and use of substandard LPG gas cylinders and storage tanks in the state and the country at large,” he said.
He said SON will not retire in the fight to sustain the effort at improving lives through quality assurance and standardization.
The head of SON’s state office, Mrs. Omolara Okunlola, said the sensitization activity became imperative in furtherance of the organisation’s strive to develop the small and medium enterprises and most importantly because of the sensitivity of the subsector to humanity.
The resource person, Engr. Obiora Manafa, who is also the HOD Metrology and Instrumentation of SON’s Lekki operation office, said effective management of LPG cylinders was the responsibility of all stakeholders and no government agency could do it alone.
Manafa called on stakeholders to work with SON and DPR in ensuring strict compliance with all relevant standards for the safety of Nigerians.
He said plant owners and retailers had great role to play in ensuring safety of lives and property in the sector by insisting in filling only cylinders that meet the requirements of the relevant standards.
Source : Independent
