Tag: SON

The newly appointed Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, has assured the Nigerian public of his plans to promote and support the development of the homegrown economy to support the federal government’s plans to industrialise the country.

Okeke who gave this assurance while unveiling his agenda, said his immediate plan is geared towards realising the agency’s mandate of improving lives through quality assurance.

According to him, the strategy he hopes to deploy is a holistic approach that would boost made-in-Nigeria products and ultimately strengthen the naira.

He noted that the organisation was going to use policies and standards regulations to increase job creation, poverty reduction and return confidence to export trade.

Besides, he assured that he would elevate infrastructure to international standards and ease access to laboratories especially for the micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMES) products.

Okeke also said that his leadership would popularise the outcome of standards adopted or elaborated to align with industry needs and global best practices.

The SON boss said such development would go a long way to support both import and export trade.

In his words, “I have received the baton of stewardship today, I must take full control of the activities of the organisation while taking directives from my superiors, the Standards Council and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment. My immediate priority will be to review the hand-over notes quickly to address the areas of concern towards achieving our objectives timely.”

He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the appointment, assuring him of his resolve to diversify the nation’s economy away from oil through ensuring that locally made goods are produced to meet global standards.

“I am indeed very grateful to our dear President for this appointment. I will remain focused on his agenda of homegrown economy and the industrialisation of the country. To my Minister I must thank you immensely for this recognition as I promise to pursue the realisation of the organisation’s mandate. May I also recognise the efforts and achievements of my predecessor, Mallam Farouk I. Salim, within the three years of his leadership and the other CEOs who helped numerously to improve the lives of Nigerians through standards over the years,” he said.

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While acknowledging that governance is a continuum, he pledged commitment towards continuing with the noble projects on ground that would help in achieving the President’s homegrown economy agenda and increasing the competitiveness of Nigerian products both at home and at the international markets.

“Stakeholder engagements shall form critical pillars of my administration while encouraging the micro, small and medium scale enterprises, as they are the engine drivers of the nation’s economy and growth. We are going to encourage the industry operators to take the issue of product testing as a very key element to productivity and economic growth,” he assured.

“The staff and general staff development will receive greater attention as the organisation remains a reflection of the workforce at all times. Productivity and efficiency shall be my watch words, as we protect the nation from the dangers of substandard products,” he pledged.

Eradicating substandard products, he noted, will ultimately lead to higher capacity utilisation of Nigeria’s teaming industries and create more opportunities for youth employment.

“Once more, I remain ever grateful for this opportunity while soliciting for the support of all in this very important mandate,” he averred.

The new Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, has promised to pay special attention on international trade, enhance standards development, strengthen regulatory enforcement, and embrace technology to make SON’s operations more efficient and transparent.

Okeke outlined his priority areas while resuming duty as the DG of the standards body.

A seasoned banker and tax consultant, he said under his leadership, the organisation will continue its core mandate, which include preparing standards for products, measurement, materials, processes, and services, as aims to promote consumer confidence and enhance the global competitiveness of Nigerian products and services through standardisation and quality assurance.

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He expressed his belief that “quality is a journey with no destination” and emphasised the importance of making SON the foremost standardisation body in Africa and one of the top-ranking organisations globally.

Okeke also highlighted the significance of staff welfare and inter-agency collaboration to achieve SON’s goals effectively.

His appointment brings a wealth of expertise and experience to this pivotal role, which plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and safety of products and services within Nigeria. Dr. Okeke’s educational background is nothing short of impressive.

He holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Accountancy, along with a Master of Science (MSc) in Accounting, both earned from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka. His commitment to advancing his knowledge is evident in his attainment of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), which he earned from the University of Nigeria in Nsukka.

 His tenure as the immediate past Chairman of the Imo State Internal Revenue Services (IIRS) further demonstrates his extensive experience and leadership in the realm of taxation and revenue generation.

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria [SON] has said that the only way to strengthen the Naira which is fast losing value is to get both the big and small scale industries to work at optimal level by adhering strictly to standards.

“By so doing, the locally-produced goods will be able to compete globally, importation will cease, while employment will increase. It is through the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises [MSMEs] that our economy can be great again. No country in the world survives by big industries alone. If the MSMEs does not survive, this country will not,” stressed the SON DG, Mallam Farouk Sali

The Director General of SON, stated Tuesday in Lagos, at a general sensitisation training for MSMEs on products competitiveness, driving home-grown economy via standardisation.

Mallam Farouk said that developing MSMEs through standardisation and quality assurance remains the task of SON, pointing out that most resource based manufacturing companies are within the MSMEs bracket.

“We are not relenting on our commitment towards the sustainable growth and development of MSMEs across the country. This is the power house to industrialisation and economic diversification,” stated the DG.

Furthermore, he stressed that SON is partnering with the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria and other stakeholders adding that the essence of gatherings as this is to create platform for mutual and robust exchanges, synergising and identifying challenges for the benefit of the operators and regulators.

The SON boss said that adhering strictly to standardisation and quality assurance would make Nigerian products and services more acceptable at the international market, noting that when all products and services conform to standards, the country and her people would benefit tremendously from it.

He explained that there was standard for every product or service, adding that upholding standardisation even in service industry of hospitality, tourism and hotel would create international markets and patronage for such services.

The SON boss said standardisation would also lead to cost reduction, less effort on production, strengthen brands and make it convenient and easy for customers to recognise and pick quality products and services.

“It provides a company with a competitive edge in the market. Manufacturers and service providers need to ensure that their products and services meet the right specifications and deliver on their customers’ expectations.

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“When a company assesses its products and services in accordance with relevant standards, this helps the company to adapt to the latest market trends regarding quality.

“And avoid the costs related to product returns, buyer complaints, and loss of goodwill in local, regional, and international markets,” the SON DG said.

Dr. Adams Adebayo, Chairman Lagos branch, NASME, Nigerian association of Small and Medium Enterprise[NASME] said that the need for the workshop cannot be overemphasised.

“We all know what happened when yams exported to US from Nigeria was rejected. We have to look at it from the local content. Our association is fully in support and will remain compliant.”

In his message, Prince Elvis Ihie, President, Association of  Micro, Enterprises of Nigeria [AMEN] regretted that though the industry is the highest employers of labour that the federal government has neglected them while busy chasing foreign business people.

Appealing to SON to intervene, he cried that the industry is about to die.

Mr. Femi Egbesona, the President Micro small business owners of Nigeria, said “what we need is support. The way forex is going, importation will drop but we need government agencies to collaborate with us.

He decried the idea of government formulating business policies without engaging them. “We wear the shoe and know where it pinches. Have dialogue with us before coming out with your policies.”

Meanwhile the national association of block makers, Nigeria asked government to charge Nigerian engineers to formulate machines that will be pocket-friendly. The President Adesegun Banjoko also lamented on the issue of high cost of cement regretting that people start corners when the price is high.

He appealed to the Federal Government to collaborate with the stakeholders to look inside for home grown materials that can be used in making cement.

Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the SON DG, Chief Duru Emeka, who doubles as  coordinator of the sensitisation,  said that  Nigerian  products were produced in line with international best practices and enjoy global competitiveness in line with the organisation’s quality infrastructure  strategy under the able leadership of Mallam Farouk Salim.

“This will reduce the rejection of some of our products at export market, increase industrialisation and wealth creation,” Duru said

Duru subsequently urged the participants to consider the sensitisation workshop as an opportunity  to broaden their scope.

He charged stakeholders to remain committed and focused on ensuring standardisation at all times.

Other Professionals  also made presentations on, ‘Products Competitiveness:Driving home grown economy via standardisation and HCPCC’, ‘Promoting Exports and Product Competitiveness via quality labeling and package materials’ and ‘Standardsation as an imperative for industrial development’, which was presented by Mr. David Ikhenebome, Head of dept, micronutrients, good and chemical laboratories SON.

• By Okwy lroegbu-Chikezie and Oluwakemi Dauda

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has cried out over the importation of substandard reinforcement steel bars in the market which the agency said has resulted in the loss of lives, jobs, finance, and environmental degradation based on the high rate of building collapse in the country.

Worried by the ugly development, its Director – General, Mallam Farouk Salim has called  for a comprehensive approach to prevent such incidents from occurring in the furniture.

Addressing reporters in Lagos yesterday, Salim disclosed that, the agency is collaborating with other government agencies at federal and state levels in monitoring construction activities to ensure best practices as well as enlightening the investing public on the need to engage competent professionals to handle their developments.

 The DG said, there must be proper implementation of standard requirements for building in the country and called for compliance with Standards Specifications and Codes of Practice because it plays a fundamental role in reinstating the eroding confidence of Nigerians in the Nigerian Building Industry.

Salim noted that it behooves the 36 State Governments of the Federation to a domesticate the National Building Code in their various States

He said the agency has carried out a number of investigations on building collapse in the country and findings from the investigation of building collapses revealed that the reoccurring root causes of most building collapse, according to SON include:  “poor structural designs,  quackery and unprofessionalism,  Inadequate soil testing ,  poor construction practices and procedures  unapproved construction, wrong demolition process, lack of maintenance,  negligence,  use substandard materials(Steel reinforcement bars) and poor drainage around the collapsed buildings among others.

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Salim said SON, in collaboration with other sector regulators including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Raw Materials, Research and Development Council (RMRDC), the Ministry of Works and other developments agencies at both the state and federal levels is working tirelessly to address the menace.

According to him: “this Press Conference is necessitated by the unfortunate incidents of building collapse in the country, which has resulted in the loss of lives, jobs, finance, and environmental degradation amongst others. As the National Standards Body (NSB), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is committed to ensuring the safety and integrity of structures across the nation and recognises the need for a comprehensive approach to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

“The Organisation is of the view that compliance with Standards Specifications and Codes of Practice plays a fundamental role in reinstating the eroding confidence of Nigerians in the Nigerian Building Industry. 

He said further that “in compliance with the Organisation’s mandate under Section 5(1) (b) of the SON Act N0.14 of 2015 to undertake investigations into the quality of facilities, systems, services, materials and products, whether imported or manufactured in Nigeria, in line with this mandate, it is important to highlight that the major responsibility of SON in the incidence of a building collapse is visit the site, collect samples, analyze in our different laboratories and submit our findings to the appropriate authority or Investigative Panel set up by the State Government where the incident occurred for further actions. The Organisation has carried out a number of investigations on building collapse in the country.

Findings from the investigation of building collapses, he said,  “revealed that the reoccurring root causes of most building collapse include:  Poor structural designs, 

quackery and unprofessionalism,  inadequate soil testing, poor construction practices and procedures, unapproved construction, wrong demolition process, lack of maintenance, 

negligence,  use substandard materials(Steel reinforcement bars), and poor drainage around the collapsed buildings among others.

Salim added that the mission of attaining a safe environment for the citizens of Nigeria through standardisation and quality assurance is unending and that the SON in collaboration with other sector regulators including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Raw Materials, Research and Development Council (RMRDC), the Ministry of Works and other developments agencies at both the state and federal levels is working tirelessly to address this menace. 

Findings have shown that Section 5(1) (a) of the SON ACT NO: 14 of 2015 empowers the Organisation to organise tests and do everything necessary to ensure compliance with standards designated and approved by the Council.

“Findings from Market surveillance conducted by SON’s task force revealed that there were substandard reinforcement steel bars in the market. After a series of engagements with stakeholders in the sector, the Organisation carried out a full-scale nationwide enforcement in factories and marketplaces, and culpable dealers were sanctioned in line with the provisions of the SON Act No.14 2015. While these raids have greatly limited the availability of substandard steel bars in the markets there is still a need for more to be done. 

“By implementing these measures, the Organisation seeks to ensure that all buildings in the country are safe, structurally sound, and built to withstand the various environmental and usage conditions they may face. Notwithstanding the existing measures already put in place to address this issue, I must acknowledge the need to continually upgrade the regulatory strategies for the Construction Industry in Nigeria to ensure the safety of Nigerians.” Salim said.

SON, according to him, is committed to working closely with relevant government agencies, industry stakeholders, and the public to address the issue of building collapses in  the country.

While reassuring Nigerians that SON is committed to “improving life through Standards,” he urged  members of the public to report any suspected cases of using substandard materials or poor construction practices to SON through any of their offices in all the states of the Federation including the FCT, for prompt action. 

The House of Representatives has urged the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to check the proliferation of sub-standard steel production.

It called on SON to commence massive enforcement of its mandate to prosecute anyone dealing in sub-standard steel products to face the law as enshrined in Section (4) subsection (l) of the SON Act,2015.

The House also urged the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to live up to its core mandate as stipulated in the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 (FCCPA) by eliminating hazardous and substandard products from the market.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion by Hon. Aluko Ahmed Yinka.

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The House noted that the increasing rate of building collapse claiming lives is not unconnected to the circulation of substandard steel products.

The House said it was aware that the SON has the mandate to ensure standard production across sectors.

It said it was also aware that the FCCPC is mandated by law to promote and protect the interests of consumers over all products and services.

The House worried that the high rate of substandard steel products in the markets is alarming.

It was disturbed that the production and distribution of sub-standard steel products expose  consumers to the threat.