In a bid to fight gainst the influx of substandard goods into the country, the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) is set to reduce substandard products  by 35 per cent before the end of this year.

According to the agency, it was able to achieve 25 per cent reduction in 2011.

The Director General, SON, Dr Joseph Odumodu, said the agency would increase the fight against sub-standard products this year, adding that it would collaborate with other agencies such as Customs, Police to achieve its plan.

He said the agency would also  begin the review process of its Off-shore Conformity Assessment Programme, otherwise known as SONCAP.

“We intend to reduce sub-standadisation by 35 per cent this year. Last year, it was reduced by 25 per cent. So, by end of this year we would have achived 60 per cent.  We are coming from a very bad situation, but we thank God that things have improved. In order to achieve this, we are going to focus more on the use of SONCAP,” Odumodu said.

He said more offices of the agency would be opened this year and that some of the testing laboratories would be refurbished. “Part of our plan is to also train some of our staff. We are going to construct a new facility in Ogba, here in Lagos,” he said.

Odumodu said SON would also begin testing of petroleum products, adding that “this is  part of efforts to ensure that adulterated petroleum products no longer get into the Nigerian market.”

He said right from the landing point to the pump point, petroleum products would be tested and given pass mark or otherwise when needed.

“Anyone or station found wanting will be made to face the music. Not only will such stations be closed, the people behind such atrocity will be made to face the wrath of the law”, Odumodu warned.