SON Closes Chinese Warehouse over Inferior Aluminum Coils

Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has sealed off Three Friends International,  a warehouse belonging to a Chinese firm, over substandard aluminum coils.

Mr. Bede Obayi, head, Inspectorate and Compliance SON, who led a task force on an enforcement exercise to the aluminum coil warehouses in Lagos, said that the company stocked aluminum which quality was below the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) minimum specification of 0.4 millimeters.

Obayi said SON is resolute in ridding the country of substandard products and explained that the team was on routine inspection to ensure that the company complied with the NIS minimum requirement for aluminum roofing sheets.

The HIC noted that some unscrupulous importers indulged in such sharp practice to evade payment of complete duty. “The duty on colour coated aluminum coil is 20 per cent while plain coil is five per cent.

 “We must ensure that what the consumers want is commensurate with the value of products they are getting so that they are not cheated,” he added.

Obayi however advised that importers and dealers should sell the right products at the right quantity and quality. “Your 0.50 mm, should be 0.55 mm. Anybody who wants to buy aluminum roofing sheet should go to the right source with expertise for standard measure,” he expressed.

He warned that SON would not cease from confiscating any roofing sheet that fell below 0.4 millimeters.