By Muhammad Annur

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Thursday raided Yankura Market in Kano and sealed off shop and a warehouse where new and branded fertiliser bags with SON certification logo were being sold.

The acting state coordinator of SON, Mr. Murtala Sa’ad , who led the exercise, said the raid was done to rid the state and the nation of fake and substandard products that could be harmful to human lives.

Sa’ad said that the raid was a follow up of the compliance exercise conducted in the fertilizer market two months ago.

He promised to make the exercise a regular one so as to stop persons selling fake products from circulating them.

He further explained that the market shop and warehouse had brand new fertiliser bags with SON certification logo which he said could be probably used for re-bagging of adulterated fertilisers.

According to him, 15,106 customised brands of Indorama fertiliser company bags and packaging materials where discovered and quarantined.

The acting state coordinator said that the organisation was particularly worried about the presence of fake and adulterated fertilisers in Kano markets.

Sa’ad further added that SON had engaged stakeholders in an effort to curb the menace of fake fertiliser in Kano markets.

He reaffirmed the commitment of Director General of the organisation, Malam Faruk Salim, to rid the Nigerian market of fake and substandard products in view of the negative health implications and other effects.

Sa’ad further restated the organizations commitment under the stewardship of Mr. salim on stepping up its crackdown on manufacturers and importers of substandard and adulterated products in the country for the overall interest of Nigerians’ wellness and wellbeing.

Some dealers and distributors of fertilizer, who spoke to our correspondent appreciated the objectives and role of SON in ensuring products manufactured in Nigeria compete in quality with best brands anywhere in the world.

They also promised to cooperate and share intelligence with the organisation in order to rid the market of substandard fertilisers.

They also commended the efforts of the director-general of SON and the compliance team in their resolve toward ensuring that manufacturers adopted best practices.

NIGERIAN TRACKER reports that the exercise caught dealers of new and branded bags with SON certification logo unawares.

The officials of SON were accompanied by NSCDC personnel to seal off the shop and warehouse.