The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SON

  • SON, NAFDAC reiterate commitment to ease of doing business

    The Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Osita Aboloma, has reiterated his agency’s commitment to promoting the ease of doing business among local industries in the food and beverages sector by exempting them from payment of some service charges among other concessions.

    Aboloma, who stated this during the visit of the Acting Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. Yetunde Oni to his office earlier in the week, insisted that the agency is supporting the growth of local industries in the various sectors of the nation’s economy through the diligent application of standards and quality assurance programs.

    According to him, once the industries show evidence of registration with NAFDAC, they get concessions ranging from exemption from service charges, product registration fees to waivers in importation of raw materials and machinery.

    Aboloma added that the SON has a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) detailing concessions to bonafide members of the Association.

    He stressed that the document is currently undergoing review by a joint committee of the two organizations to reflect current realities of the nation’s economy.

    He emphasized the need for SON and NAFDAC to improve on the synergy between the two agencies in order to actualize Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s directive for them to certify Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSEs) throughout the country within two months of receiving applications from them.

    Speaking earlier, the NAFDAC chief commended the enormous collaboration between the two agencies and appealed for proper handling of areas of overlap in functions in the interest of the nation’s economy.

     

     

  • Nigeria to require higher quality for imported fuel

    Nigeria will increase quality standards for its imported gasoline, diesel and kerosene from July 1, a change health campaigners have long said is necessary to protect citizens from toxic fuel.

    All imported diesel from July 1 can contain a maximum of 50 ppm sulphur, while gasoline and kerosene can contain a maximum of 150 ppm, according to an environment ministry official and information from the Standards Organization of Nigeria, the body responsible for setting requirements for imported goods.

    Nigeria’s current import standards are 3,000 ppm on diesel and 1,000 ppm on gasoline.

    Reuters reported that West African nations had promised higher quality fuel late last year as part of a United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).

    But details on the timeline and precise implementation had been unclear.

    Ghana had targeted an even earlier deadline, but sources said it had not yet finalised its new fuel requirements or issued a fresh timetable.

    Several groups, including UNEP and the African Refiners Association, have been pushing West Africa for years to mandate higher quality fuel and ban fuels that are illegal in Europe and the United States due to what experts say are calamitous effects on respiratory health – particularly in dense urban areas such as Lagos.

    Late last year, the Swiss-based campaign group Public Eye blamed international traders for using the continent as a dumping ground for toxic fuels that are banned elsewhere.

    Other African nations, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Morocco have also increased fuel quality requirements.

  • Stand with your son, Abia governor tells community

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has urged the people of Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area to stand by their son, who is the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chikwendu Kalu.

    Speaking when he received the people of the area who came on a solidarity visit to him, Ikpeazu said those behind the plot to recall the speaker should give peace a chance.

    The people of the area, through their council chairman, Ifeanyi Isikaku, read a communique a four-point communique, saying: “That we pass a vote of implicit confidence on our son, member representing Isiala Ngwa South State constituency and the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly Rt Hon Chikwendu Kalu.

    “That we disassociate ourselves and indeed the good people of Isiala Ngwa South council area from the purported malicious publication in some national dailies of 22nd March, 2017 on the recall process against the speaker.

    “That we urge the good people of Abia State and the House of Assembly to disregard and discountenance the said publications as being frivolous and the handiwork of faceless detractors who have no good in tensions for our people and the state.

    “We hereby pledge our unalloyed loyalty to our son and the speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chikwendu Kalu a s well as the Abia State government under the leadership of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu.”

    At the House of Assembly, Kalu thanked his people for coming to stand by him and assured them that he would work for the good of the state.”

    At a meeting held by the political stakeholders in Isiala Ngwa South local government area, they condemned the recent call by some people suspected to come from the area calling for Kalu to resign or be recalled.

    They released a communique signed by 87 people condemning the actions of some members of the council and called them to retrace their steps or face the consequences.

    The four-point communique reads: “That we pass a vote of implicit confidence on our son, member representing Isiala Ngwa South State constituency and the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly Rt Hon Chikwendu Kalu.

    “That we disassociate ourselves and indeed the good people of Isiala Ngwa South council area from the purported malicious publication in some national dailies of 22nd March, 2017 on the recall process against the speaker.

    “That we urge the good people of Abia State and the House of Assembly to disregard and discountenance the said publications as being frivolous and the handiwork of faceless detractors who have no good in tensions for our people and the state.

    “We hereby pledge our unalloyed loyalty to our son and the speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Chikwendu Kalu a s well as the Abia State government under the leadership of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu.”

     

  • SON gives ultimatum to owners of LPG storage tanks

    SON gives ultimatum to owners of LPG storage tanks

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has given a two-week ultimatum to owners of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage tanks nationwide to begin the process of SON certification or have their facilities shut down.

    A statement from the office of the Director-General, Mr. Osita Aboloma, in Abuja, said SON has observed a sharp rise in the installation of LPG storage tanks in petrol filling stations across the country, many of which have been unable to provide evidence of SON certification of the vessels.

    Aboloma, therefore, directed SON state offices to intensify the surveillance of installed LPG storage tanks in their areas of coverage to ascertain those that have SON certification before installation as required by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) regulation.

    He said imported and locally-made LPG storage tanks are required to undergo SON certification to ensure conformity to the requirements of Nigeria Industrial Standard (NIS) 419:2000, specification and testing of unfired pressure vessels for the storage of LPG and ASME Division 1 Section VIII.

    These, according to him, include safety and performance requirements.

    The SON boss said locally-manufactured vessels are required to undergo certification under the SON Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP), while imported vessels are to undergo the off-shore Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) certification.

    He appealed to the public to be vigilant and report any installation of LPG storage tanks in their vicinity to the nearest SON office for verification of compliance to standards in the interest of public safety.

  • Slain woman’s son accuses police of shielding ‘killers’

    Slain woman’s son accuses police of shielding ‘killers’

    •’We’re interrogating our personnel’ 

    Family of slain yam cake (Ojojo) seller, Kudirat Adebayo, yesterday accused the police of attempts to shield their men who allegedly killed her.

    The woman was hit on the head by stray bullet from policemen who were chasing some internet fraudsters popularly known as Yahoo Boys at Mushin tollgate on Tuesday evening. She died on the spot.

    Her son, Abayomi alleged that the Olosan Divisional Police Officer (DPO) is trying to exonerate his men of the alleged dastardly act.

    Abayomi, who is Lagos State Coordinator for Christian Youth Association of Nigeria (CYON), said the DPO told him that he cannot pinpoint the policeman who fired the fatal shot.

    The DPO, he claimed, said the deceased might have been killed by the criminals’ bullet.

    He said he was told to await the result of an autopsy that would be conducted on his mother, adding that the DPO said she might have died of heart attack and not bullet wounds.

    Abayomi said:  “When we got back to the station the DPO told us he could not give us the true picture as he was still investigating. He said he could not pinpoint the person who shot the gun. He said the autopsy would indicate what killed my mother. The policeman who shot my mother is popularly known as Chiboy and he was with a guy called Prince.

    ”The DPO admitted they were his boys but said he could not give us details until they remove the bullet in my mum’s body and confirm it was that of policemen. The mortuary management said the autopsy will take three weeks. They also said I have to sign to pay N1000 daily for accommodation. The DPO has changed the case. He said it was hooligans that were fighting but there was no fight at all.”

    Reliving his last moments with his late mother, Abayomi said: “I was at her shop around 3pm but she had not prepared her Ojojo. She said she felt weak and was not ready to fry. So I told her I was hungry and she said I should go home that my sibling had cooked. I left there and went for a meeting close by. I was still at the meeting when I heard gun shots. ”We felt it was from a party of Yahoo guys and didn’t bother. I did not know my mother had been gunned down. They said the shooter was attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) at Olosan Police Station and his duty was to arrest Yahoo guys. As he was chasing the guys, he shot sporadically and killed my mum.

    ”My last word to her was that I would be back. I had finished eating and was going back to her. I even told her I was insolvent and she said I should see her when going to collect some Ojojo for her grandchildren.  My children were in church then if not they would have been with her on holiday and might have been hurt as well.”

    Abayomi appealed for justice, noting that he neither has the resources nor voice to fight alone. He said: “My case is like a crippled person that wants to clap.  How do I do it if I don’t know people who can help me fight for justice? I don’t have money. My youngest sibling is in SS2, the other one just finished shoemaking training and is trying to gather money for freedom.

    ”So, the burden is on my neck. Do I want to train my siblings or sponsor a case without back-up? I am a social media person and I help people with their own cause with some results. So this happening to me is like a dream I don’t expect. I believe social media and the press can help me fight this. I don’t know what to do.”

    Salamoni Akeem, an aide of former House of Representatives member, Kako Are, who visited the bereaved family yesterday, said: “We have been together for over 10years now. We were together with the mother even on Friday at the exact spot she was shot dead. I even tried to buy Ojojo from her. I sent a proxy because if she knew I was the buyer, she wouldn’t let me pay.

    ”She prayed for us before I left that night. I was so shocked when I got a call around 9:30pm that she was shot. One of the reasons we are here is to get to the bottom of this thing and stop this attitude of our policemen. I still believe we can trust our policemen but we need to remove the bad eggs among them first. If they see a culprit that they need to apprehend, that doesn’t warrant them to be shooting sporadically in the midst of innocent lives struggling to survive.

    ”Our policemen need orientation. Many people have tagged Mushin as a den of hooligans, which I don’t believe is true. The citizens need to be protected at all costs and not harassed or threatened.”

    The command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said: ”We are investigating, trying to get behind the scene information. We are trying to know the best way to handle the matter. We are currently interrogating the policemen allegedly involved and have launched a manhunt for the suspects.

    ”We cannot say for sure what happened and who was involved until the completion of investigation. The matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) at Panti, Yaba. You would get details as soon as we have concrete facts.”

  • SON recognises Capital Interior Concept

    SON recognises Capital Interior Concept

    Capital Interior Concept Ltd has secured the Standards Organisation of Nigeria’s (SON’s)  Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP)  certificate.

    The certificate, which confirms the firm’s quality mark in kitchen cabinet products, was presented to the firm’s MD, Mr Eze Theophilus by  SON’s Director-General, Osita Anthony Aboloma.

    Speaking through SON’s Lagos Office 1 Coordinator, Engr. Ugbaja Joseph, Osita said the firm has gone through SON’s rigorous process of routine inspection and testing of the products and satisfied its stringent conditions for the prestigious award.

    “We are proud to be associated with Capital Interior Concept LTD, and we make bold to recommend their products to everyone, and declare them fit for use,” Ugbja said while quoting from a statement signed by DG/Chief Executive (SON).

    Ugbaja, warned that SON would not hesitate to withdraw the certificate should the firm compromise standards in future.

    Expressing his gratitude Mr Theophilus thanked SON for the recognition saying it was a dream comes true.

    He said: “I have come a long way in this industry and for Nigerians and SON to recognise our quality products, means the future is bright for us.”

    He said the firm will not rest on its oars in ensuring that its products  win more accolades in the area of quality.

    He also urged the Federal Government to help promote indigenous products produced and used by Nigerians, adding that this would serves as an alternative to imported products.

    “This will definitely create job opportunities for unemployed youths,” he  said.

  • Mother beats son to death in Ogun

    Operatives of Ogun State Police Command have arrested a middle-aged woman, Mrs Bisola Olukoya, for allegedly buried her 16 -year- old son, Toheeb Olukoya, to death.

    The incident, according to the spokesman of the state police command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, happened on March 17, 2017,at No 40, Ifelodun Street Onifade Itele in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    Oyeyemi said: “The suspect while beating the deceased used plank to hit him on the head, the action made the boy fell down and gave up the ghost.

    “The suspect, having realized what she has done, hurriedly buried the deceased in connivance with her husband and ran away from the house.

    ” Immediately the information got to the Police, the Divisional Police Officer(DPO), Itele Division, Lukmon Adejumo, led the detectives to investigate(the incident) and the suspect was later traced and arrested at Iyana – Ipaja in Lagos.

    He added: “The Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Iliyasu, ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCID). He equally appealed to general public to always control their temperament especially when correcting their wards.’’

  • SON seizes substandard electrical products

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has seized substandard electrical products worth billions of naira at a warehouse  in Okokomaiko, Lagos.

    Its Director-General, Mr. Osita Aboloma, told reporters that the items owned by a Chinese were also labelled with a forged SON registration identity. They included electrical switches, sockets, energy saving bulbs, street lamps, rechargeable fans and lamp holders, among others.

    Aboloma said the importer could not tender any document to back the importation nor could he provide a certification from SON (SONCAP).

    Aboloma, who was represented by Mr. Suleiman Isa, head, Market Surveillance, said the fake products were found by its Surveillance Unit 111.

    Aboloma added that SON had to confiscate the products after efforts  by the owner to show proof and certification failed.

    “The owner was invited to our office to show proof of importation and certification by SON, but the owner refused to show up. That is why we are here today. We have seized all the products because they have very funny labels. We have also seen some of the products with SON logo, which is not our official logo. That means the products were illegally brought in,” Aboloma said.

    Aboloma urged the public to look at products carefully before purchase, especially the expiry date, SONCAP logo and if the seal was tampered with.

    The agency’s state Coordinator, Lagos Office III, Mrs. Ngozi Ekwueme, said the warehouse would remain sealed until investigation on how the products entered into the country was concluded.

    A senior staff member of the company said he could not speak for the importer.

    In another development, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc Chairman Chief Kola Jamodu has lamented the continued influx of fake  products into the market, urging the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to  curtail the scourge.

    He spoke in Lagos at the presentation of International Organisation for Standardisation’s ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems certificates to the company for its Ikorodu and Aba factories, by SON’s Director-General Dr. Osita Aboloma.

    ISO 9001:2015 QMS is the latest version that replaced the ISO 9001:2008, and PZ Cussons is the first manufacturing company in the country to achieve the certification after a year of rigorous audits of its manufacturing processes across factories.

    Jamodu commended the SON chief, asking him to sustain the heat on importers of fake and sub-standard products. He stressed that indigenous manufacturers needed to be protected. He urged SON  to stop  the influx of fake and substandard products.

    He commended the standards body for having put the ISO 9001:2015 in place, stressing “we have continuously made self-regulation our target and we are, therefore, pleased to be the first Nigerian company to achieve the certification.”

    Aboloma said: “The agency is determined to see that SON does not only seize substandard products but that those behind it are prosecuted.”

    He lauded PZ Cusson’s achievement, saying: “By this feat, the company has joined a privileged class of ISO 9001:2015 QMS certified organisations and a trail blazer for other manufacturers to follow on the requirements for this standards.”

  • NAFDAC, SON advised on imported goods

    NAFDAC, SON advised on imported goods

    The Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO), Ota Zonal Command, Paul Kehinde Osukoya, has urged the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other agencies to ensure sub-standard goods are not imported.
    He said about 40 per cent of imported spare parts, tyres and electrical/electronic appliances were fake.
    Osukoya, who was reacting to the arrest of two Chinese, who imported N5billion worth of sub-standard tyres, said the agencies should plug the loopholes used by people to smuggle fake/sub-standard products.
    He said such products constituted health hazard.
    Obiano presents certificate to monarch
    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has presented Certificate of Recognition to Igwe Godwin Ezeilo, the monarch of Nanka in Orumba North Local Government.
    He said this was in consonance with the Anambra Traditional Rulers Law of 1981.
    Obiano said he had no difficulty in signing the certificate because Ezeilo was unanimously elected by his people.
    He urged the traditional ruler to promote peace and unity in Nanka, saying his government’s assistance to communities was to ensure peace.
    The governor advised him to reach out to those aggrieved over his ascension to the throne, “as you are now the father of all.”
    Presenting the monarch, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters, Chief Greg Obi, said the occasion was a culmination of years of efforts.
    He said the traditional ruler enjoyed the support of about 90 per cent of the people.
    The President-General of the community, Mr. Bernard Onyekwelu, said Ezeilo emerged the winner with 181 votes ahead of the second and third contestants, who got 31 and 18 votes.
    He urged the indigenes to support the monarch, in the interest of peace and progress.
    A stakeholder, Mr. Iloegbune Okoye, hailed the development and prayed for God’s wisdom for the monarch.
    He thanked the governor for according recognition to the traditional ruler and hoped it would mark the beginning of a new era in Nanka.

  • NAFDAC, SON advised on imported goods

    The Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO), Ota Zonal Command, Paul Kehinde Osukoya, has urged the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other agencies to ensure sub-standard goods are not imported.

    He said about 40 per cent of imported spare parts, tyres and electrical/electronic appliances were fake.

    Osukoya, who was reacting to the arrest of two Chinese, who imported N5billion worth of sub-standard tyres, said the agencies should plug the loopholes used by people to smuggle fake/sub-standard products.

    He said such products constituted health hazard.

    Obiano presents certificate to monarch

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has presented Certificate of Recognition to Igwe Godwin Ezeilo, the monarch of Nanka in Orumba North Local Government.

    He said this was in consonance with the Anambra Traditional Rulers Law of 1981.

    Obiano said he had no difficulty in signing the certificate because Ezeilo was unanimously elected by his people.

    He urged the traditional ruler to promote peace and unity in Nanka, saying his government’s assistance to communities was to ensure peace.

    The governor advised him to reach out to those aggrieved over his ascension to the throne, “as you are now the father of all.”

    Presenting the monarch, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters,  Chief Greg Obi, said the occasion was a culmination of years of efforts.

    He said the traditional ruler enjoyed the support of about 90 per cent of the people.

    The President-General of the community, Mr. Bernard Onyekwelu, said Ezeilo emerged the winner with 181 votes ahead of the second and third contestants, who got 31 and 18 votes.

    He urged the indigenes to support the monarch, in the interest of peace and progress.

    A stakeholder, Mr. Iloegbune Okoye, hailed the development and prayed for God’s wisdom for the monarch.

    He thanked the governor for according recognition to the traditional ruler and hoped it would mark the beginning of a new era in Nanka.