Business
SON Commences Cable Dealers’ Certification Soon
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), says it will soon start the certification of cable dealers across the country to reduce the influx of substandard cables.
Mr Felix Nyado, the SON Deputy Director, Enforcement and Compliance Department, made this known to newsmen in Lagos while supervising the destruction of substandard products worth more than N120 million at a Lagos dump site.
He said that the organisation had also been repositioned by the government to crack down on unscrupulous importers and prevent them from flooding Nigerian markets with substandard products.
“ The task force would be represented in all the states to comb warehouses, shops and border ports to ensure that the culprits are brought to book.”
“ With this new strategy, once an individual is not certified, you are not qualified to sell cables.”
“The business would no longer be an all comers’ affair. SON has to certify dealers after thorough training,’’ he said, saying that the initiative would start with the cables and other products later.
Nyado said that the organisation had recently engaged additional capable personnel to strengthen the organisation’s operation at the various land and border posts.
According to him, henceforth, importers and dealers that engaged in the sale of substandard products would be charged to court under the economic and miscellaneous offences.
Nyado said that the products destroyed included tomato puree, cables, television sets, and helmets.
“Such products are dangerous and unwholesome for human consumption and unfit for construction outfits as they can cause the death of many innocent Nigerians,’’ he said.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.