A syndicate specialised in production of substandard and adulterated paint products has been apprehended in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by officials of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) following a tip-off from well-meaning Nigerians.

The operation which followed weeks of surveillance activities by the SON officials and security agencies stemmed from classified information provided by concerned Nigerians on the production of the paint products within residential areas without necessary precautionary measures.

The residential areas where the unwholesome activities were discovered according to him were in Rumuobiakani, Ada George and Eloparanwo, all in Port Harcourt.

READ ALSO Changing the narratives of Nigerian maritime industry

Related News

Speaking during the enforcement exercise at one of the sites Rumuobiakani in Port Harcourt, SON State Coordinator for Rivers/Bayelsa States, Engr. Ayoola Ololade stated that the over 200 units of 20-litre buckets of paints and 70 bags of calcium carbonate materials were discovered at the site.

He stated that the sites at Ada George and Ele-oparanwo were about starting production when the SON officials arrived and sealed off the two premises where about 50 used 20-litre cans of paints were found.

The uncertified paint products being produced by the suspects included Planet Coat Acrylic Emulsion, purportedly being produced at 9th Mile Enugu and Olamac Emulsion Paint, according to Engr. Ayoola.

They were also found to be adulterating popular, certified made-in Nigeria paint products including Sloak and Saclux while children and pregnant women were found engaged in washing used paints buckets for recycling.