40% of imported electric, electronic appliances substandard – SON

Bose Kehinde, the South West Regional Coordinator of Standard Organisation of Nigeria, says 40 per cent of the total electrical and electronic appliances imported into Nigeria are substandard.
Kehinde disclosed this at a one-day workshop organised by SON for the Electrical and Electronics Dealers Association in Osogbo, Osun State.
The theme of the workshop was: “Understanding the Dangers of Substandard Electrical/Electronics: A panacea to Economic Growth.”
The SON coordinator warned the Nigerians against importation of substandard electrical and electronic appliances.
She said the usage of such products had made many families to become victims of fire disasters with destruction to lives and property.
Kehinde stressed the need to protect consumers from the danger of using substandard appliances.
The South West coordinator expressed the commitment of SON to continued sensitisation of Nigerians on the need to eschew buying of substandard products.
Richard Adewumi, the guest speaker at the workshop, said substandard electronic and electrical appliances enjoyed more patronage because they were cheaper compared to quality ones.
Adewumi said that substandard appliances constituted a hazard to public health, lives and property.
According to him, it is very challenging to control importation of fake appliances because some importers often evaded inspection by regulatory agencies at the point of entry into the country.
Adewumi urged importers to always ensure that the products they import into the country complied with standards.
He also disclosed that 15 per cent of the imported products into the country were counterfeits.
In his remarks, the SON Coordinator in Osun State, Sunday Badewole, urged importers to always buy products with warranty and users’ manual.
Badewole said: “Refuse patronage of importers of substandard products because the law will always deal with whosoever sells such products.
“Consumers should avoid products that have no country of origin or manufacturer’s name and address.”