The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Friday destroyed 230 bags of expired sugar and other substandard consumables worth about N25 million in Kaduna to safeguard public health and promote product quality.
The destroyed items included soft drinks, milk, tomato paste, and insecticides, among others.
Speaking to journalists at a designated destruction site outside Kaduna metropolis, the Deputy Director of SON’s North-West Region, Mr. Adamu Ahmed, said the confiscated products failed to meet the organisation’s quality and safety standards.
“We are here today to destroy substandard products that did not comply with required standards. Their destruction ensures that consumers do not unknowingly use items that could endanger their health,” Ahmed stated.
He added that all 230 bags of sugar had expired and failed laboratory conformity tests, making them unsafe for public consumption.
Ahmed explained that the exercise forms part of SON’s mission to safeguard the lives of Nigerians through standardisation and quality assurance, which remain central to the organisation’s mandate.
“This destruction sends a strong message to manufacturers, importers, and distributors that we will not compromise on quality. These substandard products pose a clear danger to consumers,” he said.
He noted that the confiscation and destruction followed SON’s rigorous conformity assessment process, which identified the products as health risks. Ahmed emphasized that the agency’s enforcement efforts are aimed at building consumer confidence and ensuring only quality products reach the Nigerian market.
Ahmed commended manufacturers and importers who comply with national standards while urging others to do the same to support a safer marketplace. He also appreciated the collaboration of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Kaduna Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA), and the Kaduna State Government.
“This destruction serves as a warning to those dealing in substandard goods. We will not relent in ensuring full compliance with quality specifications,” he stressed.
The State Coordinator of NESREA, Mr. Hena Dangari, who witnessed the exercise, commended SON for its consistency in protecting consumers from unsafe products. He described the exercise as a demonstration of effective inter-agency collaboration to safeguard public health and the environment from harmful substances.
“We are glad to witness this disposal of seized substandard items to prevent them from reaching the population. It shows SON’s dedication to consumer protection,” Dangari said. He urged the public to report suspicious or substandard products to relevant agencies, noting that collective vigilance helps prevent environmental pollution and health risks.
Dangari also cautioned against the continuous use of single-use plastics, which he described as major contributors to environmental degradation, flooding, and erosion. He noted that NESREA is working closely with other regulatory agencies to enforce the ban on single-use plastics in public and private offices nationwide.
“Every manufacturer and importer must take responsibility for their products through the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) initiative to ensure proper waste management,” he added.
Also speaking, the General Manager of KEPA, Mr. Yahya Victor, commended SON for involving state agencies in its operations. Represented by the Director of Pollution Control and Laboratory Services, Mrs. Thelma Peters, he said the authority remains committed to collaborating with SON and other environmental bodies to ensure a safe and sustainable environment for all residents of Kaduna State.
“We are in the same line of work and will continue to support SON’s efforts to protect public health, ensure safety, and promote environmental sustainability,” Victor said.
