The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders called for the return of Standards Organisation of Nigeria to the nation’s seaports, to stop fake and substandard goods from entering the country.
The founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, stated this on Thursday when the immediate past Director, Inspection and Compliance Directorate of SON, Mr. Obiora Manafa, led his successor, Mark Dakhling, on a visit to NAGAFF Headquarters in Lagos State.
Aniebonam explained that chasing after such dangerous goods after they had entered the nation’s markets might prove difficult because of the fluid nature of trade.
He advised the management of SON to partner with other stakeholders to facilitate the organisation’s return to the seaports, to rid the country of fake and substandard products.
He said, “SON means life, because its functions have to do with the life of Nigerians and their property.”
According to him, it is an act of injustice blocking SON, with a wider scope of functions, from returning to the ports, while officials of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control are back at the same ports.
He reiterated his call on the management of SON to reach out to players in the industry and people in government to, as a matter of urgency, ensure the return of SON to the ports in the interest of Nigerians.
Aniebonam said if the government did not see the urgent need to return SON to the ports, then there was no need for any other agency, with regulatory powers, except the Nigeria Customs Service, to remain at the ports.
He commended SON for its efforts in ensuring that Nigerians were protected from fake and substandard products and urged it to continue striving for the best because its failure would have serious repercussion on life and property in the country.
Speaking earlier on behalf of the DG of SON, Manafa thanked NAGAFF for the immeasurable support to government gencies operating at the ports, particularly SON.
He described NAGAFF as a dependable ally and urged the association not to relent in its support to SON.
Manafa said the visit was to show appreciation to the management of NAGAFF for the support he received and to introduce the new director to major stakeholders in the industry, to make his job easier.
On his part, Dakhling thanked for the beautiful things he said about SON and for pledging NAGAFF continuous support for SON.
He expressed delight at the good reports he received about NAGAFF, adding that he was looking forward to a smooth working relationship with the number one freight forwarding association in the country.
