The Director-General, Standards Organisations of Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, has threatened to shut down firms that contravene SON's Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme.

He stated that SON would continue to ensure that industrialists conformed to the MANCAP.

While noting that it was not the intention of SON to stifle industrialisation, he warned that the organisation will not condone products that are not of specification or injurious to the health of the consumers.

He spoke during the presentation of Assessment Certificate No. 001623 and MANCAP NIS Logo Nos. CT-3930 and CT-3931 to Intermicrotel International Nigeria Limited, in Ilorin on Thursday.

He was represented by Kwara State Head, SON, Mr. Adeshina Popoola.

Odumodu stated that after a team of SON officers had carried out an inspection on the company and the outcome of laboratory analysis carried out on samples of the products, SON had adjudged Intermicrotel's products as conforming to the requirements of NIS 105:2007 and other relevant standards.

The products are: Tender Sofy luxury tissue paper (premium) and Tender Soft elegance tissue paper (economy).

The DG urged consumers to inform SON of producers that are not adhering to standards.

"When we identify such defaulters, we close them down immediately.

Once we confirm that the products are not up to the requirement of the standard, or the specification, we close them down immediately.

"If they are the cooperative types, we work with them, tell them what to do until they get it right. But if they are the ones that will want to remain recalcitrant, the law of the nation will deal with them," Odumodu said.

He stated that SON had closed down about five companies in Kwara State, whose products posed health hazards to consumers.

He added that when the companies conformed to standards, they were reopened.

The Managing Director, Intermicrotel International Ltd, Mrs. Ejiviese Falekulo, in an interview with journalists, said industrialists in the country had many challenges.

She stated that their major challenge was power problem, adding that because of the inefficiency of the public power supply, industrialists were forced to privately power their companies.

This, she noted, had led to high cost of production which reduces profits.

"I hope that with the private investors taking over power distribution in the country, things will improve rapidly and that it will not be expensive.

"With this certificate, a lot is expected from us because our products are going to go to many places. Where we had not reached before, with this mark, we will be able to penetrate now," Falekulo said.

MANCAP was instituted by SON in 2006 as a standard measure, which requires all manufactured products in Nigeria to conform to the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards prior to sales in the markets or export.

Its aim is to protect genuine manufacturers against unwholesome practices such as unfair competition in trade, production of sub-standard products and counterfeiting.

MANCAP also ensures that the environment is free from unnecessary wastes and pollution.

It is also targeted at providing consumers with the confidence that products manufactured in the country are safe.