LOCALLY MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS MUST COMPLY WITH NIGERIA INDUSTRIAL STANDARD— SON
REPORTER: CHIKA ESONWUNE
The Director General, Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, has sued for strict compliance to laid down standard and quality by manufacturers and service providers in the country.
Dr. Okeke, who made the call in a message to a forum in Awka, noted that strict compliance would enable small and medium enterprises to thrive in the country.
Represented by the Regional Director, Anambra Regional Operations, Mr. Bassey Matthias, Dr. Okeke explained that as Nigeria’s apex bureau of standards, the organization’s mandate of setting and enforcing internationally accepted standards for manufacturers, is aimed at improving the lives and wellbeing of Nigerians.
According to the SON boss, before any product is presented for sale in any Nigerian market or exported, it should be certified by the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) scheme meant to ensure that all locally manufactured products conform with the Nigeria Industrial Standard (NIS).
He added that SON also had the mandate of withdrawing such certification when breached.
“Quality keeps revolving.The moment you stop, that means your target is gone.
“Whenever we notice that goods don’t comply with set standard, we withdraw SON certification for the safety off Nigerians,” Dr. Okeke stated.
Dr. Okeke enjoined manufacturers and service providers to imbibe the culture of standards to ensure that Nigeria is not made a dump ground for substandard products.
“Standards Organization of Nigeria is bent on seeing Made in Nigeria products comply with globally accepted standards in order to favourably compete with their foreign counterparts,” he noted.
Contributing, the state Coordinator, Anambra Office One, Mr. Emmanuel Husseni, maintained that manufacturers owed consumers commensurate value for their money, pointing out that sustenance of quality “is an endless journey.”
Radio Nigeria gathered that Anambra State was congratulated as one of the states with the passion for standards.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
