SON destroys N25m worth of expired sugar, substandard goods in Kaduna

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has destroyed expired and substandard consumables valued at about N25 million in Kaduna State as part of efforts to protect public health and uphold product quality standards.

The items, which included 230 bags of expired sugar, soft drinks, milk, tomato paste, and insecticides, were destroyed at a designated site outside the state capital on Friday.

Speaking during the exercise, Adamu Ahmed, SON’s deputy director for the North-West Region, said the products failed to meet the agency’s quality and safety benchmarks.

“We are here to destroy substandard products that did not comply with required standards. This is to ensure consumers do not unknowingly use items that could endanger their health,” Ahmed said.

He explained that all 230 bags of sugar had expired and failed laboratory conformity tests, rendering them unsafe for consumption. Ahmed noted that the destruction exercise aligns with SON’s mandate to safeguard lives through standardisation and quality assurance.

“This sends a strong message to manufacturers, importers, and distributors that SON will not compromise on quality. Substandard products pose clear danger to consumers,” he added.

Ahmed said the confiscation followed SON’s rigorous conformity assessment process, which identified the products as health risks. He added that such enforcement actions were designed to build consumer confidence and ensure only quality goods reach Nigerian markets.

The SON official commended compliant manufacturers and importers while urging others to align with national standards. He also acknowledged the collaboration of agencies including the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria 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 enforcing quality compliance,” Ahmed said.

Also speaking, Hena Dangari, NESREA’s State Coordinator, praised SON for its consistency in safeguarding consumers from unsafe products, describing the exercise as evidence of effective inter-agency cooperation.

“We are glad to witness this disposal of seized substandard items. It shows SON’s dedication to consumer protection,” he said.

Dangari advised Nigerians to report suspicious products to regulatory agencies, stressing that public vigilance was key to reducing health and environmental risks. He also cautioned against the use of single-use plastics, noting that NESREA is working with other agencies to enforce the national ban on such materials in public and private institutions.

In his remarks, Yahya Victor, general manager of KEPA, represented by Thelma Peters, director of Pollution Control and Laboratory Services, commended SON for its collaboration with state agencies.

“We share a common goal of protecting public health and promoting environmental sustainability, and KEPA will continue to support SON’s efforts,” he said.