President of Automobile and Importers Association, Mr Austine Jideofor has declared that the association had no issues with the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) as regards the agency’s execution of its duties in Nnewi.
He said all that was necessary had to do with mutual understanding between SON and the importers, so as to have cordial relationship for easy operations and business activities.
Mr Jideofor spoke to some journalists shortly after the agency had a meeting with the importers over unlocking about fifteen warehouses which SON sealed in Nnewi for alleged noncompliance with some SON regulations.
“We are working in good relationship with the SON because we are aware of the powers National Assembly gives to them. I’m conversant with the laws and I now felt that the best option is to have common understanding with the agency instead of going to war.
“Having known those powers, I think the best is for me to work with them in harmony, understanding and common sense.
“Yes, they locked close to fifteen warehouses, that they want to check standard of the goods, whether they have SONCap certificate of importation or not. If they have, whether they have renewed it in compliance with SONCap Act.
“We will remain obedient importers so long as our rights are not tampled upon. We will never break the law, “he said.
On piracy at Nkwo Nnewi market, Mr Jideofor told journalists that his association had continued to handle it according to the rules and regulations guiding the members.
“We have a law in our union. If you pirate another person’s goods, the goods will be seized as substandard products and you will pay damages to the person you pirated his products. So, we do not encourage it at all, “he added.
Jideofor lamented what he described as the steady increase in import duties which he said had continued to affect the importers marginally.
He noted that the import duties tagged to exchange rate should be critically reviewed to make it possible for the importers to remain in business.
