By Charles Okonji
As part of renewed strategy to rid Nigeria market off substandard generator and transformer, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has on Thursday unveiled its unveiled its stationary and mobile testing facilities for on the spot testing of products such as transformers and generators.
In his remarks, Director General, SON, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, that the essence was to deliver mobile testing labs at the doorsteps for Economic growth,’ stressing that SON has identified power transformer as a very important component of power supply chain that requires monitoring to ensure its quality complies with Nigeria’s industrial standard requirements.
Okeke pointed out that the organisation embarked on the project in fulfilment of SON’s mandate to organize tests and do everything necessary to ensure compliance with standards designated and approved by the council.
The DG noted that the lunch of the laboratory is to provide convenience, flexibility, reduce turnaround time, reduce cost and provide ease of doing business for clients, as the organization is always in the forefront of innovative development.
He stated that the mobile testing facility is equipped to carry out tests on transformers such as load testing, protection test, generators efficiency, power factor, voltage regulation test, insulation test, emission test of generators exhaust and noise level check.
According to him, “These are critical tests that will determine the quality of generators and will supply information to our product certification department for MANCAP certification.
“The mobile testing on transformer will include Insulation resistance, winding test, ration test, polarity test, leakage resistance partial discharge test and no-load loss and excitation current among others.
Dr. Okeke maintained that the provision of these mobile testing facility will assist SON to achieve among other total coverage of Nigeria; Full implementation of MANCAP for local assemblers, importers and sellers of the two products in Nigeria; Sanction all suppliers of substandard generators and transformers in Nigeria; Carry out spot test at the entry point of such product into Nigeria; Ensure that all measuring equipment used are calibrated; resolve all complaint received from buyer of such product,” among others.
The SON Boss, told assembler and importers of these products that it was no longer business as usual, stressing that buyers must have value for their money “and to know that all information supplied on their product will be verified and tested for compliance to Nigeria industrial standard.
He said, “SON will be collaborating will other government agencies in the electricity sector to sanitize the market and ensure that only certified products are allowed in the Nigeria market.
“I also assure Nigeria that our administration will continue to do everything in line with our mandate to rid the market of substandard product and to our media house we solicit more of your support to sensitize Nigerians on need to patronize certified made in Nigeria products.”
In his presentation, Director, Lab Services, SON, Richard Adewunmi, who made a presentation on the impact and overview of SON laboratories services on economic growth said the facilities is a plus for the organisation and consumers, which will will help in saving time and money.
“In the past, we had lots of complaints from consumers which could not handle, but now, all of those problems are over with those this mobile lab.
“This lab detects emission level and ascertains noise emission status. Transformer is vital in our community, so, every material used in coupling transformer must be to certified.
“With this mobile lab, we would start implementing recall of transformers and generators policy once it fails conformity and certification test.”
Commending SON for solving aged long problem, the representative of Otunba Francis Meshioye, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Joseph Emoleke, Director, Field Services, MAN, commended SON for the milestone achievement, saying that it is an incentive to the manufacturers and importers of both transformers and generators.
Emoleke noted that MAN would like the Ajaokuta Steel Mill to become functional, adding that it will reduce billions spent annually on importation of steel products.
On his part, Sylvester Uguru, Vice President of Electrical and Electronics Dealers Association, Alaba International Market, commended SON for this milestone achievement.
Uguru expressed that this will greatly reduce the troubles and arguments faced constantly in the market whenever customers return some products for one reason or the other.
He noted that these giant strides will help his members in reducing losses incurred on some products for not being tested adequately at the point of entering.
