SON harps on quality assurance in local production, imports

The Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Osita Aboloma has reiterated the need for the Nigerian businesses to maintain an acceptable level of standards as specified by the agency in compliance to global best practices.

Speaking at a meeting with the Independent Accredited Firms (IAFs), managers of SON off shore Conformity Assessment Program (SONCAP) in Abuja, Aboloma said it is imperative for businesses to live up to the expectations of Nigerians in the inspection of goods coming into the country.

In a statement signed by the Head, Public Relations, Mathias Bassey, the SON boss said that the mandate given to the managers is to ensure that only tested and certified products are allowed into the country adding that anything less will not be accepted by SON and Nigerians.

The Independent Accredited Firms made up of INTERTEK, SGS, COTECNA and CCIC were told that the diversification of the Nigerian economy has brought a lot to bear on the SON in the development of the non-oil sector particularly in the area of Agriculture and Industry.

Aboloma therefore, urged them to do all within the mandate given to them by SON to ensure that Nigerian businesses are protected from the menace of substandard products from overseas adding that the issue of quality should be taken seriously and place the interest of Nigerians above every other interest.

According to him, “Quality increases income and affect the lives of the people including health. The “change begins with me” mantra of the Federal government is to be self-reliant, and ensure ease of doing business in Nigeria. Change and improvement are synonymous, and for any system to change it must not be rigid, there must be room for constructive criticism for the system to move forward”.

In their response, the program managers all promised to ensure a harmonious working relationship with SON while also maintaining probity in the operations of the SONCAP as enunciated by SON, adding that efforts at ensuring success will be sustained as according to them Nigerians deserve the best.