SON raises alarm on fake engine oil

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, has alerted on the circulation of suspected substandard Toyota brand of engine oil in the Nigerian market.

Director General of SON, Dr. Osita Aboloma said the suspected substandard engine oil was discovered through the agency’s regular market surveillance in its 42 offices nationwide. He further noted that the imported product had neither undergone the agency’s offshore conformity assessment process, nor registered with the agency for traceability and quality verification.

This is even as the agency has appealed to manufacturers to adhere to acceptable standards in the production of quality hand sanitizers/hand lotions as essential preventive items needed to defeat the prevailing fight against the corona virus global pandemic.

SON in a statement weekend stated that the Toyota brand of engine oil are being sold in 1litre and 4litre containers to unsuspecting Nigerian consumers, further stating that the suspected substandard product has no relationship whatsoever with products of the Toyota brands of automobile or related products.

Consequently, SON’s Director of Compliance, Obiora Manama, has advised Nigerians to avoid the purchase of the suspected counterfeit Toyota brand of engine oil in the meantime. Manama said the agency’s operatives are on the trail of other uncertified and unregistered brands of engine oil in the Nigerian market for necessary regulatory action.

He advised the general public to patronise only certified Made-in-Nigeria brands of engine oil with the MANCAP logo and imported brands that had undergone the agency’s offshore conformity assessment process and are duly registered for traceability and quality verification.

Speaking on hand sanitizers and lotions, SON warned that local manufacturers who fail to keep with the required acceptable international standard would be identified and sanctioned. The agency notes that the importance of quality hand sanitizers cannot be overemphasized at a time the world is on the race to find a cure to combat the Corona Virus pandemic, codename Covid-19.

Aboloma, represented by the Ogun State Office 11, SON, Engr. Akanbi Eyitayo Micheal, said SON would not tolerate any minus in standards, during a facility tour of Cormat Nigeria in Ogun State last week. According to him, quality hand sanitizers and liquid hand wash are one of the critical tools to battle the virus, saying that hand washing with soap and water is one of the most important steps that can be taken to avoid getting sick and spreading the virus to loved ones.

Recall that SON supported the manufacturing and importation of essential materials to combat the challenges of COVID-19 through the deployment of 28 relevant international Standards from the International Organisation for Standardisation, ISO, and one from the African Organisation for Standardisation, ARSO, on Alcohol based Hand Sanitizers.

Meanwhile, Standard organization of Nigeria, SON, has upped its campaign for manufacturers to avail themselves of the agency’s technical support to help them keep within the compass of acceptable global standards, and to guarantee consumers safety and value for their money.

SON maintained that manufacturers cannot go wrong if they embrace these technical supports, noting the effort will also offer a strong window for the ease of doing business as currently canvassed by the federal government.

Dropping above hint during recent facility tour of some manufacturers in Ogun State, including Cormat Nigeria Ltd, SON said its technical support is available to both big and small manufacturers. Director General of SON, Dr. Osita Aboloma who was represented by Ogun State Office 11, SON, Engr. Akanbi Eyitayo Micheal said:

 “We have always admonished manufacturers to come to us for technical support so that we can   guide them through. SON is with you all the way and in line with the ease of doing business mandate of the federal government, we are here to encourage manufacturers and even the small businesses too. Come to us, we will guide you and give you all the necessary technical support.”

Head Technical and Plant Manager, Cormat Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Jelle Van Der Meer thanked SON for its visit and reassured SON that the gesture and its technical support will go a long way helping the company to raise the its  performance bar.

He said, “The visit by SON is very important because it gives us the ideas and opportunity to raise the bar and we are glad to receive technical support from SON to achieve bigger goals for the greater good.

“I applaud SON for being part of our journey to get to the highest level  of producing quality products. Their input has been very important to us and it will trigger us to do even more and become better than our competitors.”