Director General, SON, Mallam Farouk Salim

The country’s standards regulating body, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria ( SON) has called on industries to collaborate with it in the war against counterfeiting.

The Director General of the body Mallam Farouk Salim who made the plea when him and his management team paid a courtesy visit to Vitafoam, foam company and Friesland Campina in Lagos recently.

Salim opined that counterfeiting of local products is fast killing Nigerian companies, adding that has lead to serious banditry, kidnapping and other security issues.

He pointed that It necessary that the act establishing it be amended. He explained that the act will further empower SON in terms of the fight against substandard goods and prosecution of offenders.

He therefore urged manufacturers to support his agency position, when it goes to the National Assembly to review it’s Acts by next year.

The SON boss went on the memory lane to say that in the 70s and 80s, Nigeria manufacturing industries was the pride of Africans, adding that many Nigerians who went to further studies in Europe and the United States of America, are always rushing back to Nigeria to work in the country’s thriving manufacturing companies.

“I can still remember in the 70s and 80s, when our people were going to school in Europe and America , but quickly returned to work in our manufacturing companies.

“Most of those companies have folded up due to the activities of counterfeits.

“We are here to plead with you to collaborate with us in our efforts to repositioned our manufacturing companies.”

Responding the Managing Director of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc Mr Taiwo Adeniyi said, disclosed that himself and his management team visited Ariara Market, Aba and Kano main market were they had a first hand experience of how VItafoam Nigeria Plc foams were been counterfeited unhindered.

He promised that his company welcome the visit of SON, adding that his management door is wide open for partnership and collaboration with SON.

The Vitafoam Nigeria Plc boss disclosed that his company is the country’s leader in foam and other related products producers, adding that it has been in operations in Nigeria in the past 60 years.

He disclosed that the faith his company has in Nigeria made it to has presence in Kano, Jos, Aba and Ikeja.

On his part, the Managing Director of of Friesland Campina, Ben Langat stated that industries face all sorts of problem in the country’s business space.

He noted that a lot of companies are shutting down due to high cost of raw materials and other challenges.

In his own words, “In the last one year, most companies in the food and beverage industry are unable to sell due to non affordability of their products.

“Unscrupulous people bring a lot of things into the market, but we are very careful not to allow them. The best moment for moment for counterfeit is a time like, when inflation is on the increase. Powder milk is very easy to counterfeit, so we are happy collaborating with SON to curb the problem. Our everporated paper packaged milk is 100 percent locally produced.”