As part of moves to discourage the importation of substandard products into the country, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says it has seized substandard aluminium sheets worth over N200 million from various aluminium companies in Uyo.

The Director, Inspectorate and Compliance Directorate, Mr Obiora Manafa, disclosed this to newsmen on Friday in Uyo, while reiterating the commitment of SON to save the “hard earned resources of Nigerians”.

He said that the ongoing exercise would be carried out in every part of country and warned the perpetrators to desist from the unwholesome practice.

He explained that the minimum standard required of an aluminium sheet was 0.4mm instead of 0.25mm, which some companies use for the production of roofing sheets.

“We are here to evacuate substandard roofing sheets found here. We have aluminium roofing sheets and galvanised roofing sheets. The minimum thickness of aluminium roofing sheets is 0.4 millilitres”.

“There are a lot of consequences using the roofing sheets because anyone buying it will not have value for his money. Once you buy it, any little wind will blow your roof off. These are the reasons we are trying to discourage some Nigerians from importing substandard products”.

“People go out there, import these products knowing fully well that Nigerian standard is 0.4 millilitre yet they bring it in,” he said.

The director also urged the Federal Government to return SON to the ports to check the influx of substandard products because some of the products come into the country without SON’s Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) certificate.

Manafa advised would-be buyers to either go with qualified engineers to buy the product, or go with the required measuring instrument to verify the standard length and width of the sheet they intended to buy.

He urged would-be buyer to consult any of the state offices of SON for guidance. (NAN)