Products authentication: SON pushes for a return to ports

Chidi Okoh, Uyo

Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has harped on the need for it to be allowed to return to the seaports.

It expressed its critical role in authenticating and preventing the influx of substandard products in Nigeria for more impactful and sustainable future.

The Director General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke stated this on Wednesday, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital during the 2024 Strategic Leadership Retreat with the theme: “Service Optimization, Greater Effectiveness and Revenue Enhancement for a Renewed Future.”

He revealed that SON was working closing with the supervising Minister to bring it back permanently to the ports to perform its constitutional duties which according to him do not clash with other agencies like customs,NAFDAC and others.

“SON must return to the port to prevent bad products from coming into the country in the first place. It is working closely with the supervising Minister to bring us back permanently at the ports.” He said.

The DG also revealed that SON with the support of the supervising ministry was working towards the amendment of its Act 2015 to reflect the current realities and International best practices.

He further revealed that the organisation was working in partnership with the presidential initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) project to ensure that there is availability of standard products and the implementation of the standard policy.

“It doesn’t just end with the standard, we also have to talk about the implementation. SON on its own, is collaborating with the relevant agencies, we have the Nigeria Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Nigeria Automotive Design and Development Council, and Presidential initiative on CNG. We are all collaborating together to ensure a successful roll out of the CNG projects.” He added.

In an interview, Director, Industrial Inspectorate department, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Anietie Umoessien, who represented the Permanent Secretary, Amb. Nura Abba Rimi at the event said SON plays critical role in protecting the interests of consumers, stressing that they must strive for excellence in their service delivery

According to her, “We want SON to be a new SON, an e-SON, a SON that has product authentication mark. The main function of SON is standardization of products and you see with the new Presidential initiative for CNG, SON had already standardised for CNG products, about 87 of them. So we would carry SON about upto the next optimal level to be able to compete with other products in the world.

“Funding is one of the major challenges of SON, so we encourage the FG to give SON more funds for them to be able to carry out their assignments like the product authentication mark is a good initiative. You have your product, authenticate it, and that is it. There will be no issue of fake iron rod, fake products, you authenticate it direct.”