13th July, 2012
Producer of lubricants have raised a fresh alarm over the proliferation of adulterated and fake lubricant products in the Nigerian market, warning that the development portends danger to users and the nation’s economy and could crippled the local industry if urgent steps are not taken to arrest the disturbing trend.
The lubricant producers under the aegis of Lubricant Producers Association of Nigeria, LUPAN, raised the alarm when they paid a courtesy call on the Director General of Standard organisation of Nigeria, SON, Mr Joseph Odumodu.
During the visit, LUPAN Executive Secretary, Mr Emeka Obidike, reiterated their concerns over what he called a threat to the lubricant industry, by indiscriminate importation of substandard lubricants and adulteration of member’s products.
He said the situation has led to economic loss to consumers of such unwholesome products which most often result in breakdown of machineries, environmental pollution as well as undue competition for local producers as they come very cheap to unsuspecting customers.
Odumodu at the meeting, confirmed that the nation’s economy was being threatened by the twin problems of fake/ substandard and adulterated products.
He said the SON is embarking on registration of all products including oil lubricants in the market within the next few months as a measures to sanitize the market, to ensure that standards are adhered to by manufacturers and that consumers have value for their money.
Stressing that the trend must be checked as the nation could no longer allow such ugly trend to continue, Odumodu said: “There are standards and we are ready to enforce them, I can assure you. We have launched the zero-tolerance campaign, and for us, it is a new beginning.
After the meeting, LUPAN vice president, Alhaji Ado Mustapha, expressed confidence in the SON under the leadership of Odumodu to bring the much needed sanity in the oil lubricant market.
He stated that their members, apart from investing heavily in state factories as well as in research and development, are high employer of labour and as such,s are ready to partner with SON in all fronts to ensure sanitisation of the market devoid of substandard, fake and adulterated products.
—Henry Ojelu