*Organisation on the right track, says Dr Ngige
The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) has reiterated its readiness to boost the African Continental Free Trade Agreement through standardization, as it recently secured approval for over 37 industrial standards.
This was disclosed by the Chairman, SON Governing Board, Dr. Evelyn Ngige, on Wednesday in Lagos, during the council meeting.
Ngige who noted that SON was on the right track, said that over 37 approvals were secured to make locally manufactured goods more competitive.
She said: “Three (3) of the standards were reviewed, eight (8) newly developed and 26 approved from existing international standards.
“The approved standards which cut across various sectors of the Nigerian economy are in line with the approved Nigerian National Standardisation Strategy. The strategy focuses on stakeholders and marke demands and the optimization of available resources.”
According to her, it would opportunities for manufacturers and dealers in the plastic industry to be competitive locally and internationally, especially in the AfCFTA.
On his part, the Director-General, SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, pointed out that the approved standards were painstakingly developed through stakeholders’ input and consideration.
Salim said: “This is an indication that we are working very hard to ensure that products in this country are not only up to standards, but produced for export. In December, we will have another council meeting to approve new standards.
“Every standard we put out there is strategic to AfCFTA, because when we establish our standard, it is expected that people who are expecting our goods looks at the standards to know that the products were approved are up to standards, which is a guideline for everything you can think of.”
According to the DG, some of the standards approved have to do with hair, adding that people in that line of business will leverage producing internationally acceptable products.
“Anyone who is planning to go into fish farming can always come to us to get the standards to start their fish farming business.
“For the ordinary man on the street when they see the standards they will know SON has approved it and it has also been established by the stakeholders and the users of that product.
“The reason we develop standards is that when we are shipping products from Nigeria to other country, you have a stamp on it and the person receiving this product would see the sign of quality on the products and also realise that the product is meeting the set standards.
“Standards are really important so that we can have our own standards out there and people will be protected from substandard goods,” the DG stressed.
He stated that food standards are very important, stressing that it is very essential for fish feed standards.
