Traders of Building Material International Market, Ogidi; New Tyre Market Nkpor; Electrical Market Obosi; Electronic Dealers Association, Onitsha; Amalgamated Tyre Dealers Association, Nkpor and Iron Road Dealers Association, Bridge Head Onitsha,yesterday embarked on solidarity rally for the Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON.

The solidarity rally which kicked off from Dennis Memorial Grammar School, DMGS, Onitsha, saw the traders and their leaders marching round the major streets in Onitsha, chanting pro SON, and Dr Joseph Odumodu songs, in appreciation of the good work the organization is doing in the campaign against substandard products and goods.

The traders also displayed placards with inscriptions as: “SON has saved us from fake and substandard products;” “Products fakers are wicked, all thanks to SON for saving us;” “Substandard goods have been reduced from 80 percent to 30 percent all by SON efforts; “Dr Odumodu is the right man for SON”; SON, thank you for operation flush-out substandard goods;” ‘SON has improved standardization in Nigerian markets,” among others.

The traders leaders took time, one after the other to address newsmen shortly after the solidarity rally. They also called on those against the operational methods of SON to have a rethink because the agency is for the good of all Nigerians.

Spokesman of the Iron Rod Dealers Association, Bridge Head / Atani Road,Mr. Ifeanyi Ezeugo said, “we are here in support of what SON is doing for saving the lives of the people of Nigeria by fighting against substandard goods and adulterated goods

“For instance, we all know about the upgrading of cement to three G, buildings do not fall constantly again”.

President of New Tyre Market Association Nkpor, Chief Sunday Ezenwobi in his speech said “the solidarity rally is a commendable move to encourage a working organization. We cannot only find faults in an organization, we have done similar rally before and we are doing it now and will do it in future if SON continues the good work it is doing”.

Former Secretary General of Building Materials International Market, Ogidi, Chief Emeka Okafor, who spoke on behalf of the chairman of the market said: “The solidarity rally in support of SON and protest against those fighting the organization has become very imperative because the traders who are involved in selling building materials have seen that this is very necessary at this time to save the lives of our people from avoidable building collapse.”