SON TO ESTABLISH LABORATORY IN EBONYI, SEEKS STATE GOVT’S SUPPORT

Reporter : AMECHI ODO

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria, (SON) is to establish a laboratory to facilitate rapid testing and standardisation of manufactured products in Ebonyi State.

The Director General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, stated this when he led a delegation from the organisation to pay a courtesy visit to Governor David Umahi at Government House Abakaliki.

The visit by Malam Salim was sequel to government’s commitment to develop industrial clusters in the three senatorial zones of the state and efforts to boost the viability of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMSEs) in the area.

Malam Salim explained that out of the thirty-six states of the federation, it was only in Ebonyi, Zamfara and Bayelsa that the SON was yet to establish an office.

The SON DG noted that he was in the state to solicit the support of the state government in the provision of office accommodation and land for the construction of a laboratory.

Governor Umahi represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, observed that with the planned establishment of Nigeria Export Processing Zone in the state, the presence of Standard Organisation of Nigeria in the area had become inevitable.

He assured the Director General of the State government’s readiness to partner the organisation to realise its aims and objectives.

Dr. Igwe urged Standard Organisation of Nigeria not to relent in its efforts to rid the country of substandard products.