The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has given importers of Information Technology wares a 30-day grace period to properly register their products with the SON or face the wrath of the law.
This is arising from a stakeholder’s meeting the SON held with leadership and members of Phones and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria (PAPDAN) at the Computer Village Ikeja.
TheNewsGuru reports the meeting was part of efforts to create awareness on the importance of electronic product registration in order to curb the influx of sub-standard mobile products in the country.
“Smartphones are communication necessity that has revolutionised the way we communicate in the world but we are all aware of proliferation of substandard phones and accessories in the country and Nigeria is growing under the yoke of these products in terms of human and material losses
“These products and others in the sector have direct impact on the socio-political life of the country but have high risk if not manufactured to desired standard specifications; hence they are classified by SON as life-endangering products.
“Therefore, my visit to the Computer Village today on an interactive session on standardisation and quality of regulation, through e-products registration in this case, could not have come at a better time than now,” SON Director-General, Osita Aboloma stated.
Aboloma also said “SON also has to ensure that consumers have value for money spent on the mobile devices”.
“All importers of branded phones must within this period liaise with the product registration unit to work out the modalities of factories inspection by SON officials in those countries where these phones and accessories are manufactured to ascertain and certify the qualities of these communication equipment and gadgets before shipping them into the country,” he said.
Reacting to the development, PAPDAN President, Godfrey Hyke Nwosu, assured of the association’s cooperation.
“Working with SON, we would always ensure only quality products that will be of high standard within Nigeria, and international specifications to our customers in order to guarantee value for money and add value to the Nigerian economy,” he said.
Aboloma was represented by the Director, Product Certification of SON, Tersso Orngudwem, at the meeting.