Traders ban sale of sub-standard products at Alaba International Market

Lagos – The Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos, Branch of the Electrical Dealers Association of Nigeria (EDAN) vowed on Tuesday that it would no longer allow the sale of sub-standard goods at the market.

The chairman of the association, Mr Chijioke Okenwa, said the association took the decision in line with the ban by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on the importation of sub-standard goods into Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of Okenwa, the Public Relations Officer of the association, Mr Felix Akpunonu, said that the ban was aimed at promoting sale of quality cables and other related products at the market.

He said that the influx of sale sub-standard goods into the country was alarming and that a drastic action needed to be taken to tackle the problem.

“For instance some iron cables are sub-standard by the ratings of SON and so the union has placed a ban on their sale in the market,” he said.

He also said that any trader caught selling or off-loading sub-standard iron cables would be severely punished and the goods confiscated and burnt.

Akpunonu said that the union had put in place a machinery to enforce the ban, noting that an adulteration committee had been set up to visit shops to confiscate sub-standard goods.

“The committee confiscates these fake goods and we gather them for burning,” Akpunonu added.

NAN reports that a large consignment of confiscated sub-standard coils of iron cables were seen heaped at an open space in the market.

A member of the association’s task force, Mr Ifeanyi Otu, said  that the activities of traders in the market were being monitored by the task force.

He said that the ban on sale of all sub-standard goods was not limited to cables, adding that the fight against sale of sub-standard goods must be won.

Mr Paul Emenike, dealing in electrical cables, said  that he was happy with the ban.

He said it was important to promote quality goods, especially as the Alaba International Market, which he described as the largest electronics market in West Africa.

Emenike praised the market association for taking bold steps in eradicating sub-standard goods in the market.

Another trader, Mr Hope Kude, said that the union was up and doing in its fight against fake goods.

He said he was equally happy with the development, urging the association to intensify efforts at curbing sale of fake products, saying that selling of fake products had cost many lives in the country. (NAN)