By Uzor Odigbo
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has indicted some men of the Nigeria Police for not taking necessary action against smugglers in the line of duty.
The Head of SON Office in Edo and Delta states, Mr. Ilesanmi Akogun, stated this during a live interview on a Television breakfast show on Wednesday.
Akogun maintained that while he was being threatened, the armed policemen present did nothing to the smugglers issuing the death threat.
SON stated that they face death threats from smugglers at the nation’s borders on a regular basis, adding that the reason behind it is because of their insistence that any item imported into the country must conform with acceptable standard.
Akogun recounted that he had worked at Owode/ Idiroko Border in Ogun State, where suspected smugglers threatened to kill him over his insistence that all goods coming into the country be subjected to SON examination.
He posited that smugglers, who are likely armed, bring in fake and substandard products at night knowing fully well it would be difficult for officials the agency to intercept them.
He averred that SON was not deterred in its fight against counterfeit, fake and substandard goods despite the death threats.
“Smugglers are also responsible for the influx of fake and substandard products into the country as SON officials are not armed to stop them,” he said.
Akogun, while disclosing that he was about retiring due to attainment of 60 years of age, boasted that he had resolved over 500 consumer complaints, conduct free training for manufacturers on the need for registration. He added that he was also able to create awareness about SON from his Benin Office to his area of coverage, respectively.
