The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has raised a red alert on the discovery of suspected substandard Toyota brand of engine oil in the Nigerian market.
The Director-General of SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma, said in Abuja, on Friday that the suspected substandard engine oil was discovered through the agency’s regular market surveillance in its 42 offices nationwide.
Aboloma noted that the imported product had neither undergone the organisation’s offshore conformity assessment process, nor is it registered with the agency for traceability and quality verification.
He stated that the Toyota brand of engine oil wis being sold in one litre and four litre containers to unsuspecting end users.
It stated that the suspected substandard product has no close or remote relationship with the Toyota brands of automobile or the manufacturers.
The Director of Compliance, Mr. Obiora Manama, advised Nigerians to avoid patronage of the Toyota brand of engine oil in the meantime.
Manama noted that the agency’s operatives are on the trail of other uncertified and unregistered brands of engine oil in the Nigerian market for necessary regulatory action.
He advised the public to patronise only certified Made-in-Nigeria brands of engine oil with the MANCAP logo and imported brands that have undergone the agency’s offshore conformity assessment process and are duly registered for traceability and quality verification.
He further warned that all purveyors of substandard and life-threatening products would be prosecuted in line with the provisions of the SON Act 14 of 2015 and the Criminal Code, once apprehended.
He frowned at the importation of poor quality products into Nigeria to engage in unfair competition with high quality, certified, Made-in- Nigeria brands.
– NAN