The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has destroyed expired and substandard products worth over ₦25 million in Kaduna as part of its ongoing efforts to safeguard public health and promote quality assurance across the country.
The exercise, which took place on Friday at a designated site outside the Kaduna metropolis, saw the destruction of 230 bags of expired sugar, alongside soft drinks, milk, tomato paste, and insecticides, among other unwholesome products.
Speaking with Hobnob News, the Deputy Director of SON, North-West Region, Mr. Adamu Ahmed, said the confiscated goods failed to meet the organisation’s quality and safety standards.
“We are here today to destroy substandard products that did not comply with required standards. Their destruction ensures that consumers do not unknowingly use items that could endanger their health,” Ahmed explained.
He revealed that all 230 bags of sugar had expired and failed laboratory conformity tests, making them unsafe for consumption. According to him, the action aligns with SON’s mandate to protect Nigerians through standardisation and quality control.
“This destruction sends a strong message to manufacturers, importers, and distributors that SON will not compromise on quality. These substandard products pose clear danger to consumers,” he added.
Ahmed noted that the items were identified following a rigorous conformity assessment process and assured that the agency would continue to intensify enforcement to build consumer confidence and ensure only quality products reach the market.
He commended compliant manufacturers and importers, while urging others to uphold national standards to support a safer marketplace.
The event was witnessed by representatives from the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Kaduna Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA), and the Kaduna State Government.
The State Coordinator of NESREA, Mr. Hena Dangari, praised SON for its consistency in protecting consumers, describing the exercise as a demonstration of effective inter-agency collaboration.
“We are glad to witness this disposal of seized substandard items to prevent them from reaching the population. It shows SON’s dedication to consumer protection,” Dangari stated.
He further urged the public to report suspicious or unsafe products to relevant agencies, stressing that vigilance would help curb health risks and environmental pollution.
Dangari also warned against the excessive use of single-use plastics, describing them as major contributors to flooding, erosion, and environmental degradation.
Similarly, the General Manager of KEPA, Mr. Yahya Victor, represented by Mrs. Thelma Peters, Director of Pollution Control and Laboratory Services, reaffirmed KEPA’s commitment to collaborating with SON and other agencies to promote a safe and sustainable environment.
“We share a common goal with SON, and we will continue to support its efforts to protect public health and promote environmental sustainability,” he said.
The exercise underscores SON’s zero-tolerance stance toward substandard products and its determination to uphold quality and safety standards across Nigeria’s markets.
— Hobnob News
