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Tag: Osita Aboloma

  • Building collapse: SON to regulate building materials

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has begun moves to check incessant buildings collapse  across the country by regulating weights and measurements of building materials.

    Its Director-General, Osita Aboloma, stated this at a workshop in Abuja on the importance of metrology for quality assurance of products, services and industrial development.

    He said some buildings collapsed because the measurements and weights of building materials used for it were not up to standard.

    According to him, when you have the wrong measurement, things would go wrong. He explained that sometimes builders under-use  rods or blocks. ‘’But when these are accurate, you are sure of what you are doing,” he said.

    Aboloma, who was represented by SON’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Coordinator, Mr. Gambo Dimka, said architects, engineers and related professionals in the built environment, must ensure that the measurements given were  what they used.

    “If the architect says you should use four-by-five windows, don’t go to a quack who will construct less than what the architect specified,” he advised.

    “The SON Act No.14 of 2015 covers all aspects of metrology to ensure the protection of business, safety, wealth and every other aspect of Nigerians’ lives,” he said.

  • SON bags four global certification

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has received four international management systems standards from the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) of India.

    According to the Director General, SON, Osita Aboloma, in a statement, the four standards include: ISO Quality Management System, Environmental Management System, Occupational Health and Safety Management System and Food Safety Management System.

    The DG added that with the accreditation, SON Management System Certification (MSC) is determined to ensure continual improvement in service delivery given the global recognition that the accreditation confers.

    Aboloma stated that NABCB was approached in 2017 for accreditation, maintaining that the agency’s steadfastness to ensuring safety of lives through standards made it possible for SON to receive the certification a year later, a feat he described as a great milestone achieved in record time.

    In his words, “Our positions on the NABCB register for the various schemes are as follows: QMS: SON is 38th, EMS: SON is 10th, FSMS: SON is 15th and OHSMS: SON is 7th.

    He however stated that accreditation is vital for businesses’ quest to achieve growth and profitability in Nigeria, adding that accreditation also helps businesses compete at the global level.

    The SON helmsman said choosing an accredited certification body gives confidence that services offered meet clients’ requirements, stressing that the use of accredited conformity assessment services is increasingly a stipulation of customers in both the public and private sectors.

    According to him, accreditation keeps activities under control with the help of knowledge transfer since accredited certification bodies can be a good source of impartial advice, stressing that it can also offer market differentiation and leadership by showing to others credible evidence of good practice.

    He noted that in order to ensure the provision of quality services, the Management Systems Certification Directorate (MSC) aligned its activities with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17021 2015 (Conformity assessment: Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems) standard.

    He added that SON MSC is committed to providing quality certification services by complying with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17021 2015, understanding and exceeding the needs and expectations of its clients, using validated procedures and equipment and remaining competitive while satisfying its clients

  • SON enlightens manufacturers on standard, access to international market

    The  Standard Organization of  Nigeria,  SON has assured manufacturers of quick  access to local and foreign market for made in Nigeria products through consumer confidence and standardization.
    The Director General, Mr. Osita Aboloma, who was represented by the SON, FCT Coordinator, Mr. Gambo Dimka
    disclosed this at the SON Special Day Event at the on-going 2018 Abuja International Trade Fair.
    He said,  “The agency’s activities are aimed at the protection of lives and properties, promoting access to local and foreign markets for made-in-Nigeria products through improved consumer confidence as well as value addition to business in general.
    “SON is a service-oriented Organisation and  has been supporting manufacturers and producers of goods and services through standardization and quality assurance schemes.
    SON has aligned fully with the Federal Government’s stance on improving the business environment and implementing the requirements of the Presidential Executive Order 003 on the ease of doing business.”
    Mr. Aboloma enumerated transparent service delivery through placement of information on website for easy access; electronic services for key activities such as the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) for locally manufactured products; the off-shore Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) for imported products and Management Systems’ Certification as some of the key achievements of SON in the ease of doing business programme.

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    “Others include reduction of service charges for purchase of standards, testing and training for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), reduction in the processing time for products certification to 60 days and electronic laboratory results.
    Cooperation with key agencies through signed Services Level Agreements (SLAs), opening of new State Offices, evolving communication strategies for effective information dissemination and awareness creation as well as massive infrastructural development, including Laboratories.
    Speaking during the occasion, Vice President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Chief Chidinma Johnson Aniene harped on the importance of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria in driving business growth, particularly for the micro, small and medium scale enterprises.
    He stated that the 13th Abuja International Trade Fair was organized principally to accelerate and promote growth of the business industry, promote the non-oil sector of the Nigerian economy, direct attention on the Private sector, promote infusion of technology in production and attract direct foreign investments into the country.
    Chief Aniene called on SON not to relent in its efforts of improving lives of Nigerians on the dangers of using sub-standard products but to also increase its tempo towards smaller businesses to grow.

  • Presidency launches consumer complaint website

    As SON Revalidates Dangote Cement Gboko Plant

     

    The office of the Vice President of the Federal republic of Nigeria has officially  launched a website where consumers can directly lodge complaints.

    This was disclosed by the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of  Nigeria (SON) Chief Osita Aboloma at the occasion of the award of the  Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) or revalidation  certificate to Dangote Cement Gboko Plant.

    In the revalidation ceremony held today at the board room of the cement  plant, Chief Osita Aboloma noted that the Mandatory Conformity Assessment  Programme (MANCAP) or revalidation is to ensure that Manufactured products comply with Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) before taking it to  the consumers.

    Chief Aboloma who was represented by the Benue State Coordinator of the  SON Mr. Samson Makolo explained that the Gboko plant of the Dangote  Cement has actually been certified by the Standard organization of Nigeria  and that the certificate was been revalidated as a vote of confidence in  conformity with the agency’s laid down procedures of continuous monitoring  to ensure sustenance of quality and standards.

    According to Mr Makolo, The company has established qualified and high  caliber of experienced managers/chemists that oversee standard production  processes daily.

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    This company’s product was subjected to thorough  engineering/chemical analysis in SON laboratory in Enugu and other  independent laboratories in Nigeria and the results there from showed that  the product conformed to NIS 444/Part 1/2014 and other international  standards.

    Having gone through rig awarded this prestigious MANCAP certificate (Revalidation) .

    In his response on behalf of the company, acting plant Director of the Dangote  cement Gboko Mr Rama Srinivasan said that the management of the company  was happy that the SON has found the Gboko Plant worthy of the revalidation  certificate.

    He promised that “the company would reciprocate by continuously improving on our goods and services on a daily basis and strive to satisfy our customers and offer them quality services.

     

  • International institutes certify SON training centre

    The Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) and the International Register of Certified Auditors (IRCA) have certified Standards Organisation of Nigeria Training Services (STS) Centre as an Approved Training Partner (ATP).

    Mr Osita Aboloma,the Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), said this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

    Aboloma said that the centre is the first and only CQI and IRCA approved training centre in Nigeria and the West Africa Region.

    According to him, the certification is the precursor to the international accreditation of STS courses and part of the overall repositioning of the agency’s services for global competitiveness.

    “The certification is to ensure that appropriate systems and processes are in place and continuously maintained to provide effective and efficient management.

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    “It will ensure the development and operational delivery of CQI and IRCA certified courses to industry, government and non-governmental organisations as well as private individuals in Nigeria.’’

    Aboloma explained that the recognition was attained following the provision of huge resources at the SON Ogba training facility with the concerted efforts of staff of the STS.

    “CQI and IRCA certified courses offer some of the best trainings for quality, environment, services and auditing professionals in the world, given its global recognition and approval by employers and industry.

    “They also provide a boost to practitioners’ employment prospects.”

    Aboloma said that the courses to be offered would be at three levels — Foundation, Internal Auditor and Transition — as well as Lead Auditor and Conversion courses.

    He said that part of the criteria for the maintenance of the STC certification were CQI collection of direct delegate feedback, analysis of the pass rates, annual self-assessment, desktop documents review and on-site validation visits.

    Aboloma said that the trainees would be provided with the skills and knowledge to support application for CQI membership or IRCA certification.

    NAN

  • SON Act to revamp ailing industries, boost local production

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has stated that its reinvigorated SON Act 2015 is aimed at revamping the nation’s ailing industries while also creating an enabling environment to attract both local and foreign direct investments into the country.

    The Director General, SON, Osita Aboloma, explained that with the proper implementation of the SON Act 2015, the business community and industries would grow, bringing about massive job creation and employment, while also creating emerging market for certified Made-in Nigeria products globally.

    The SON boss stated that concerted efforts were being made to bring back the industries that hitherto dotted the landscape of Lagos, Aba, Port-Harcourt, Ibadan, Benin City, Kano, Kaduna and other cities in Nigeria, stressing that the standards body is currently deploying the use of standardisation and quality assurance to boost Nigeria’s industrialisation drive.

    Aboloma, who was represented by the Director, Inspectorate and Compliance, SON, Engr. Bede Obayi, at stakeholders’ sensitisation programme on SON Act 2015 in Lagos, said the essence of ease of doing business initiative by Federal Government is to drive business and industrial growth across the country, stating that creating an enabling environment would promote steady growth and development.

    “With standardisation, we want to ensure industrial growth, we need to make Nigeria emerge as an investment destination and hub in sub-Saharan Africa. With solid industrial base, Nigeria could become the next global economic powerhouse, following the footsteps of the Asian tigers. We want to attain economic diversification from oil to non-oil economy via rapid industrial growth.  We, at SON, want to empower and strengthen the growth of MSMEs. We have already started doing this, we are granting waivers to over one million SMEs on their products registration and certifications. We must endeavour to put in place structures and policies that would enable us to be exporting finished goods than raw materials,” he said.

  • SON: blame product adulteration on poor monitoring

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has attributed faking and adulteration of products in the country to improper monitoring and communication gap.

    Director-General of the organisation, Osita Aboloma said this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the presentation of Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) certificate to Polar Petrol Chemicals Limited.

    Dr Aboloma said, “I call on the management of the company to deliberately synergise with the distributors as experience has shown that adulteration, faking or any manner of tampering with the products is usually traced to improper monitoring and communication gap.”

    Represented by Group Head, Chemical Technologies of SON, Agboola Afolayan, Aboloma urged Nigerians to patronise made in Nigeria products “as they can compete with similar products manufactured elsewhere in the world.”

    He said, “When you patronise locally made products, it will grow the economy. You cannot grow the economy through importation. You grow economy when the money circulates. When you are patronsing, it means more sales for factories and creating employment for our children.

    There will be also sourcing of raw materials and you will pay them and they attend to their needs. That is the only thing that can make for circulation of money and that is the main focus of federal government of today.

    “The commitment of the management of Polar Petrochemicals Limited to live up to its obligation and secret mandate to meet the yearnings of its customers in the provision of quality lubricating oil is legendry and worth emulating by all manufacturers in the country.

    “By this certification, the company’s name and products are already in the SON website and can be accessed all over the world. The certification has also licensed the company to market its products beyond the shores of this country.”

    In his remark, Chairman of the company, Alhaji Tasiu Mustapha assured to ensure “that the standard with which this company started operation shall be sustained to all the stakeholders statisfaction.

    “The certification has resulted in our nomination by the World Health and Safety Organisation for the NAIJASAFE award 2017.”

    He said that apart from the systemic problem the industry is facing the challenge of adulteration of products.

    “Most of the factories you see are facing the problem of adulteration. DPR and SON have to come to our help. There are also the problems of electricity, funding and the recession that is about exiting.

    The major impact is adulteration. There should be stiffer penalty against manufacturers of fake products. It is worse than. Engine for your car is like the engine of your body. Just like you need water of food to lubricate your system, you need that engine to liberate your machines. When you feed your engine with fake oil, you are feeding the engine with poison and it will get knocked. It has a lot of effects on the economy,” he added.

  • SON gives deadline on energy efficient appliances

    SON gives deadline on energy efficient appliances

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has set next February as deadline to stop importation of fridges, air conditioners and other appliances not energy efficient. It has also fixed 2019 for locally- made ones.

    It’s Director-General,  Osita Aboloma, who made this known at the launch of the Nigeria Energy label in Lagos, said the concept will guide consumers’ choices in terms of energy conservation rating of appliances.

    He said with the launch, labels will be attached to all appliances with approved minimum energy performance, making it illegal to import any of the electrical products with less than a star.

    “We have designed a road map in conjunction with manufacturers for the implementation of the Minimum Energy Performance (MEPs) and label. Enforcement of the label is scheduled to commence after 18 months for local manufactures and six months for imported ones,” he said.

    According to Aboloma, it “will allow old stocks to be exhausted while importers of completely built units are to fully comply with the standard in six months”.

    He listed MEPs benefits to include  reduction in domestic energy consumption by up to 30 per cent of total energy demand, and improved quality of appliances as potential advantages.

    He said the implication of the drive towards efficiency is that air conditioners and refrigerators will be restricted and by extension halt the application of greenhouse gas as refrigerant in both air conditioning and refrigerating.

    Also speaking, Head of Programme, Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), Ms. Ina Hommers, said the rationale behind the €24.5million energy efficiency project, is to preserve the limited energy generated in the country, stressing that Nigeria needs to advance technologically by allowing only products that comply with international standards for the consumption of her people.

    She harped on the need to comply with global standards to grow the economy.

    President, Manufacturers’ Association of  Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs, however, said inadequate energy supply has remained an enormous impediment to manufacturers as it stood at 0.1 per cent of world consumption.

    He said the quest for industrialisation may be a tall dream if the critical question of adequate energy promotion is not addressed.

    “Energy is critical to productivity in the manufacturing sector and its share in the sector is about 36 per cent- the highest in the world, which accounts for why our locally manufactured products are the costliest globally,” he said.

    Jacobs canvassed the need to change obsolete manufacturing equipments as they are high energy consumers. He called on the government to ensure more competitiveness of locally manufactured products by ensuring that producers are supported to access funds that can aid them.

    Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCsIMA) President, Iyalode Alaba Lawson, while supporting the need to imbibe efficient energy management  system and less cost on energy consumption, said the measure will encourage informed purchases decision on goods by the people.

    The Minister of  State for Industry, Trade & Investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar said efficient energy will support industries to run at a minimal cost, and grow capacity utilisation, and as well retain jobs locally.

  • SON shuts seven firms over substandard steel

    SON shuts seven firms over substandard steel

    The Chief Executive Officer of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Osita Aboloma, on Monday said the agency has shut seven steel companies “in the last few months.”

    Aboloma said the use of substandard steel and other building materials had led to loss of many lives and property.

    He stated these at a seminar organised by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Ikorodu Unit, for steel manufacturers and other stakeholders in building

    Aboloma, who was represented by SON’s Sectional Head, Mechanical Department, Abdulrasak Oyewopo said the agency shut seven out of the 41 rolling mills registered with it for various reasons.

    He said: “In our efforts to ensure quality of products, all steel bars produced locally have identification marks that will enable SON to trace them to the manufacturer.

    “The incidence of building collapse has been a serious concern. Governments and other stakeholders are making efforts to curb the menace.”

    BCPG National President, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, blamed high quantity of metal scraps for rampant building collapse.

    He spoke on the theme: “The Importance of Quality Flat Sheets and Steel Reinforcement Materials in Construction Industry.”

    Awobodu noted that the quantity of iron ore ought to be more than that of metal scraps in construction steel to achieve quality.

    He said: “But the rising cost of production has turned metal scraps as the major component in steel production instead of ore (billets).

    “It has to be 70 per cent ore and 30 per cent metal scraps, which is permitted in any steel production.

    “These days, there are many inferior steel producers, who use 100 per cent metal scraps, even when they know that certain scraps are not ideal for steel production.

    “Building collapse is worrisome; we have submitted some major reasons we know to the Lagos Statement Government for urgent action.”

    Awobodu also said there was the need to ensure that rolling mills had Fatigued Testing Machine to ensure quality steel.

    According to him, many laboratories in Nigeria only conduct one-sided test – mechanical test – leaving chemical test undone; hence, poor quality steel in circulation.

    “The reality is that the quality of steel is better controlled from the source, that is the rolling mill, rather than relying on laboratory test of few samples,” he said.

     

  • Osinbajo commends SON for ‘promoting’ FG’s business initiative

    Osinbajo commends SON for ‘promoting’ FG’s business initiative

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has commended the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for promoting Federal Government’s initiative on the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

    Osinbajo, who spoke at SON exhibition stand during the just concluded Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinic held in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, said, “ I know this is a new SON that is ready to go. A business facilitator and not one that hinders business.”

    The acting President was accompanied to the SON stand by the state Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade and other dignitaries that attended the Clinic.

    They were received by SON officials led by the Regional Coordinator for South South, Mr. Papaye Don-Pedro, who represented the agency Director-General, Mr. Osita Aboloma.

    Addressing the participants on behalf of the SON director- general, Don- Pedro said the mandate of SON include the provision of relevant Nigerian industrial standards as benchmark for products’ quality.

    “Others are promotion of quality assurance, accurate testing and measurement regimes for trade and commerce to thrive in Nigeria,” Don-Pedro added.

    He added that great emphasis is placed on grooming of budding MSMEs using the instrument of standardisation.

    This, he said supports federal government’s industrialization efforts as well as promoting consumer safety.

    He reaffirmed SON’s commitment to improving life through standards.

    He enjoined stakeholders to join hands with the agency in the fight against substandard products in the interest of the nation’s economy and well- being of Nigerians.