The need to
observe simple trade regulations of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)
has been described as the only way to support the organisation in the efforts
to ensure quality standard of imported products in the country.
Founder,
National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) , Dr.
Boniface Aniebonam who gave this advice said what was required of importers and
freight forwarders as patriotic citizens was to conform with the new “change”
philosophy of the current Government in Nigeria.
Aniebonam in a statement said that the earlier importers “embrace change and
add value to the rules of engagement, the more secured our investments”.
He added,
“For us at NAGAFF, we shall continue to encourage SON to increase its
awareness campaign on matters of quality assurance and control over SONCAP and
MANCAP regime in Nigeria. At the same time we urge SON to continue to evolve an
approach that shall stop the idea of arresting containers on our city high
ways.
“It is most
unfortunate that through the activities of some unpatriotic elements, we have
continued to enrich other nations without getting value for our money. NAGAFF
as a patriotic Association is sounding this note of warning that it will not
provide cover for any of its members in the event of disobedience to rules and
regulations guiding our international trade.
In the same
vein we shall continue to appeal to SON to risk-manage import transactions
using the frame work of corrective measures to lessen the
burden of waste”.
Aneibonam
also urged all its members to take it as a professional responsibility to
ensure that our principals adhere to proper documentation and obtain the
product and SONCAP Certificates for each product imported and cleared by the
Customs control.
“It is our
expectation and an appeal that Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) should enter
into strategic cooperation with SON with a view to enlightening all concerned
on matters of quality assurances and control of substandard and fake products
into Nigeria. it is a civic and patriotic duty upon us to work with SON to save
lives and properties of the Nigerian people by ensuring standard of products”,
he said.
