The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have set up a joint Committee to ensure seamless collaboration towards tackling the menace of importation of substandard and life-threatening products through the nation’s entry points.
This was disclosed during a working visit of the Director-General, SON, Farouk Salim, to the Customs Comptroller General, Rtd. Colonel Ahmadu Ali, and his management in Abuja recently in furtherance of the Federal Government’s directive for SON return to the entry points to tackle substandard imports head-on.
Welcoming the SON Management team, Colonel Ali said an effective collaboration between the NCS and SON in tackling substandard imports from the entry points is in the best interest of Nigeria to protect its people and the economy.
He acknowledged the need for SON expertise in identifying suspected substandard products during the joint examination of cargoes, stressing that the scanners can only identify products but are unable to determine their quality and genuineness.
Ali said: “I am happy you are back to the entry points and will be there 24/7 to complement our job and make it better so that when any consignment exits the Ports we are sure that we are releasing what is genuine to Nigerians.”
He reiterated the need for seamless synergy among the operatives of the two agencies and directed that information be passed to all Commands in that respect.
I am happy you are back to the entry points and will be there 24/7 to complement our job and make it better so that when any consignment exits the Ports we are sure that we are releasing what is genuine to Nigerians.
Speaking earlier, Salim acknowledged the existing robust collaboration between the two agencies especially in the last 11 years, without which SON would be unable to make any inroad in tackling substandard imports.
According to him, the directive for SON return to the entry points necessitated an even more cordial and respectful relationship to protect Nigeria from the menace of substandard products and its attendant negative consequences, including factory closures, joblessness, banditry, kidnapping etc.
Salim also assured that SON has no desire to slow down the cargo clearance process and appealed to the NCS to assist the Organisation in ensuring that suspected substandard cargo can be further examined outside the ports either in SON facility or that of the Consignee.
He informed that great efforts have been made to reform the SON systems to promote efficiency and quicker turn-around time, including staff re-orientation, training and prompt consequence management.
