SON seeks ministerial approval to return to Ports

By Dapo Olawuni

Two years after it was sent parking from operating inside the ports with an Executive Order issued by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, fresh indications have emerged that the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) is planning to stage a comeback into Nigerian ports.

Director General of SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma stated this on Monday when he visited the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Richard Adebayo, emphasizing that the minister must ensure that the personnel of the SON gets approval to return to the nation’s seaports.

Aboloma noted that 80 per cent of goods and products entering Nigeria came in through the seaports.

He said the call became urgent in view of the recently signed African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement by the Nigerian government.

The SON director general also requested to escalate the draft National Quality Policy to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration and approval, adding that the step would serve as the necessary guide to the development and implementation of the National Quality Infrastructure (NIQ) Project of the government.

He also urged the minister to direct the agencies under the ministry to patronise the internationally accredited SON Management System Certification (MSC) services, which he described as one of the best in Africa.

In his response, the Minister, Mr. Richard Adebayo reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to support the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) so as to minimise the influx of substandard products in the country.

Adebayo, in statement signed by his Special Adviser, Mr. Wale Ajakaye said that ongoing efforts of SON to rid Nigerian market of fake and substandard products required more support from the federal government.

Adebayo said that Nigeria with its strategic economic location in Africa coupled with its large trade and investment potential naturally opened it to the influx of various products.

He said that the federal government would give priority to SON and other relevant agencies to check importation of substandard products especially in the construction industry.

He further noted that such products had been attributed to recent cases of building collapse particularly in the urban areas of the country.

The Minister however, urged the SON management to take the anti- corruption message of the current administration to its personnel while discharging their regulatory mandate.

According to the minister, government will continue to ensure domestic and industrial safety of all Nigerians through standardization of products.