SON boost manufacturing, export with accredited laboratories nationwide

By Jill OkekeThe Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has announced plans to lift the nations manufacturing industry with its newly accredited laboratories, noting that the standards body is also targeting an increased level of export of locally made goods to the international market.According to the Director General, SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, the accredited laboratories would encourage manufacturers to produce more, saying that products certified and tested in the laboratory would receive global acceptance anywhere in the world.The Director General stated this at the unveiling of its three accredited laboratories in Ogba, Lagos. Justifying the need for the labs, Salim said, What it means for our market is that, most of our manufacturers you heard them saying that their products were rejected even by our local companies because their products are not certified, because they do not have laboratory certificate to say that they are up to standard, but now that excuse is out of the way and also because of the export potentials of our industries, with the certification it is easy for them to export anywhere in the world because an accredited laboratory means that whatever we say is good is good. It gives the nation credibility, it gives our manufacturers credibility, and it saves our foreign currency because they do not have to go to neighbouring countries to get their products certified anymore, so it is a win-win situation for everybody.The SON boss further stated that with the accredited laboratories, Nigerian products would be accepted anywhere in the world, while also increasing the level of confidence of both local and foreign consumers of made-in-Nigeria goods.Our main plan is that in every State, there should be a minimum of some laboratory activity that can be done, because we do not want people travelling from one State to another because of testing. The three laboratories is a step forward especially with the AfCFTA in full force, foreign invasion of goods and it is really important that our local manufactured goods are not only certified, but assured to be up to standards end the rejection of locally made goods, he added.Delivering her goodwill message, the Deputy Director, Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, (FIIRO), Dr. Adebukola Huthman, commended the standards body for unveiling the accredited laboratories, saying that getting an accreditation is not an easy feat especially in a country like Nigeria.I know what you had to go through to achieve this, but to go ahead to meet the tough requirements means that SON has done lots of beautiful work and it also shows that their results have a lot of integrity and there is high confidence in their result, she said.Also speaking, the Head, Planning, Research and Statistics, Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), Mr. Emmanuel Odega, said to have three laboratories accredited the same time is not an easy achievement, saying that SON and IPAN have come a very long way especially in preparation of standards.On his part, the Executive Secretary, Paints Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Jude Maduka, said the accreditation would ensure that made-in-Nigeria goods compete favourably in the AfCFTA, stressing that the laboratories would strengthen SONs testing capabilities.
Click here to read full news..