The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has reiterated the central role of standards and quality assurance in the nation’s efforts to diversify the economy from oil to other areas such as agro allied products and solid minerals among others for local consumption and export.

This assertion was made in Abuja, during a working visit of the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Osita Aboloma, to the SGF in his office.

According to the SGF, the SON mandate to promote standardisation and quality assurance activities in Nigeria is key to the Nation’s diversification efforts, particularly with regards to the international acceptance of Nigeria’s produce and other export commodities and products.
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Lawal stated that standards remain a key benchmark for facilitating trade and investment activities among Nations. He enjoined the SON DG to work closer with all relevant Ministries and Agencies of Government as well as stakeholders in the organized private sector to reverse the trend of rejection of Nigeria’s produce export.

The SFG also reiterated the full backing of the Federal Government for the fight against the influx and circulation of substandard products in Nigeria’s markets being championed by the Standards Organization of Nigeria. He called for the support of the citizenry in the Government’s fight against corruption in all facets of the Nation’s life.

The Director General of the SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma in his remark expressed his appreciation to the President through the SGF for the confidence reposed in him to take the Standards Organization of Nigeria to the next level by his appointment. He promised to deploy all available resources to reposition the organization towards delivering on its mandate.

Aboloma assured the SGF of his preparedness to intensify the collaboration and synergy with other stakeholders in driving the success of the economic diversification efforts, as well the fight against the circulation of substandard products through diligent prosecution of offenders.