The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Bauchi state chapter, has successfully apprehended a suspected industry operating in Chinade market, producing counterfeit fertilizers.
In a significant operation, the authorities seized not fewer than 150 bags of fake Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK) fertilizers from the location situated in Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The suspect, paraded before journalists in the state by the SON North East Zonal Coordinator, Adamu Abba, was caught red-handed producing the counterfeit Golden Fertilizer.
The suspect had resorted to using four different combination sacks of fertilizer products—Mai Rago, Freedom, Boko, and Indoorama—to re-bag the fake product and sell it as the original to unsuspecting consumers.
Thanks to a timely intelligence report, the SON operations team, led by Murtala Sa’ad, swiftly mobilized to the site and successfully apprehended the culprit without any resistance from either the producer or the community.
In light of the gravity of the offense, the suspect, identified as Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed-Chanade, will face prosecution for violating Section (26) of the SON amended Act of 2015. Investigations are currently underway, and the suspect will be charged accordingly.
When questioned, the suspect confessed that his motivation for engaging in the illegal activity was the desire to make quick money, as there was a high demand for the Golden Fertilizer in the market by farmers.
He expressed ignorance about the existing laws on standardization and appealed to SON for leniency, stating that it was the first time he had committed such an offense.
The SON’s proactive efforts in curbing the production and sale of fake fertilizers demonstrate their commitment to ensuring the safety and integrity of agricultural products in the country.
The incident serves as a reminder of the crucial role played by regulatory agencies in safeguarding consumers’ interests and the nation’s agricultural sector.