Considering the rate at which substandard products ‘or fake products’ saturate Nigeria’s retail network, one would question the efficiency of the regulatory body (Standard Organization of Nigeria) delegated to check the proliferation of such products.

It is so appalling that, for every standard product, there are three or more substandard alternatives. That’s not to mention the open duplication of original labels, with entirely different content, to deceive the public and make undue earnings.



The case is most rampant with goods such as insecticides, lubricants, alcoholic beverages, and packaged foods. We find different labels in the market, most of which are grossly poor in quality. It is concerning enough that there are fake products in the market, but what is more worrisome is the unabated proliferation. Unfortunately, the good ones are also eventually cloned by dubious manufacturers.

Just recently, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria reported that over 70% of lubricants in Nigeria are substandard. Concerned about the influx of substandard lubricants into the Nigerian market, the agency announced that it was collaborating with manufacturers and dealers of lubricants to stamp out substandard products in the sector.

The Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) is the agency responsible for ensuring that only standard products get into the Nigerian markets. It is mainly involved in the “preparation of standards relating to products, measurements, materials and processes among others, and their promotion at the national, regional and international levels.” It also certifies industrial products and assist in the production of quality good

While SON should truly step-up their game to stem the menace of substandard products https://qwenu.com/2018/12/22/substandard-products-in-nigeria-and-the-tasks-before-the-standard-organization-of-nigeria/