The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)

  • Nigeria, China to tackle importation of substandards products to Nigeria.

    Nigeria, China to tackle importation of substandards products to Nigeria.

    The China and Nigeria have agreed to put in place measures to tackle importation of substandard products into the country.

    President of China and Nigeria Chamber of Commerce (CCCN),  Mr Ye Shuijin, made the disclosure Tuesday, while speaking with newsmen in Abuja.

    He also insisted that most of the imported fake products were not made in China.

    He said that the chamber and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) had some agreements to check influx of substandard products into the country.

    “Most of the substandard products that came to Nigeria are not from China because Chinese Government has well structure standards in place for its products.

    “China products are of high quality nonetheless Chinese government is already cooperating with the Nigerian government to promote importation of quality products to Nigeria,” he said.

    The quality of imported products like iron rods, bulbs, sockets, cables and fittings have always a source of worries in the country.

    SON raised an alarm in 2016 that 40 per cent of electrical and electronic appliances imported into Nigeria “are substandard and have caused disasters with destruction to lives and property.”

    It is also observed that all manner of uncertified food items are dumped in the country.

    The National Bureau of Statistics also said Nigeria spent N212.73 billion to import agricultural products in Q4 2016.

    The CCCG boss therefor stressed the need to guide the importers to do the right things and not to import substandards products to Nigeria.

    Shuijin urged the importers and the consumers to be vigilant and reject any noticed substandard products for the development of the economy.

    The president said that the chamber and the Chinese government always encourage investors from China to invest in the manufacturing sector to help in the development of Nigerian economy.

    He said that Nigeria because of its population had the market which he said was an added advantage to attract investors into the country.

    Shuijin gave the assurance that more Chinese investors would be willing to invest in Nigeria.

  • Ogbeh ‎advises critics of FG yam export policy to grow yam

    Ogbeh ‎advises critics of FG yam export policy to grow yam

    Chief Audu Ogbeh,  Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has advised critics of the Federal Government yam export policy to grow the commodity.

    Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, Ogbeh dismissed the criticisms of the policy, saying that the effort was in the best interest of the nation’s economy.

    He said the energies being dissipated by critics in condemning the initiative could be better used to produce yam, a staple in most parts of the country.

    The minister allayed the fears of some Nigerians who believed that the policy would lead to shortage of yam in the country.

    According to him, there is currently a glut in yam production in the domestic market.

    “I have seen attacks on the social media. There are questions all over as to why we are exporting yam when Nigerians are said to be hungry.

    “With all due respect, Nigeria accounts for 61 per cent of the world output of yam. We have 60 varieties of yam in this country.

    “In fact, 30 per cent of the yams we produce get rotten because we don’t have facilities to preserve them.

    “Ghana is a famous country for exportation of the commodity, but most of the yam they export is from us.

    “There has never been shortage of yam in the country. Prices might be high toward the end of the season, but new yam is already in the market.

    “Why are you so cowardice, Why lay back by not trying anything because of some sentimental reasons that might be raised.’’

    Critics of the policy believe that investment in local processing of yams into finished products is of more economic benefit to the country than exporting the commodity.

    But the minister dismissed this suggestion, arguing that export made more economic sense than processing.

    “Analysts are saying that we are supposed to add more value to yam production in order to earn more money, fantastic view.

    “But they forget to tell us how much a tuber of yam costs in the USA. Three kilogrammes cost 15 dollars, which is equivalent to about N5, 000.

    “In London, a cartoon of yam, this contains three tubers, costs 30 pounds, bringing the average cost per tuber to 10 pounds.

    “At that price, it is more sensible to export to earn more money for our economy.

    “Economy is 90 per cent common sense. You can’t keep on buying until you are broke. What are you selling?”

    To further buttress his point, the minister said foreign trade partners came to complain when Nigeria limited its food imports.

    “They complained that we were not buying stock fish from them. I asked them if they were buying anything from us. Let us do some selling as well too.

    “Nigerians should stop the sarcasm and negativity in trying to rubbish every government policy. If Ghana can export yam, Nigeria too can.”

    The minister commended the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for setting guidelines for yam exporting, promising that the standards would be adhered to.

    Ogbeh urged the commissioners of agriculture in states to keep on educating farmers to use the right yam seedlings to increase their output.

  • Osinbajo commends SON on ease of doing business

    Osinbajo commends SON on ease of doing business

    The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo has commended the efforts of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for promoting the Federal Government’s initiative on the “Ease of doing Business”.

    Osinbajo gave the commendation in a statement issued by Mr Bola Fashina, the Head of Public Relations of SON in Abuja on Saturday.

    The acting president spoke at the recent Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Clinic held in Calabar on Friday.

    Osinbajo said: “I know this is a new SON ready to go, a business facilitator and not one that hinders business”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari recently established the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PBEC.

    The aim is to review and address all encumbrances in the “Ease of Doing Business’’ which includes movement of people and goods in and out of the country, transparency in government, regulations, and registering business among others.

    Fashina said the Director-General of SON, Mr Osita Aboloma, who also spoke at the event, said the organisation was saddled with the responsibility of providing  relevant Nigerian Industrial standards as benchmark for quality of products and services offered in Nigeria.

    Aboloma, represented by Mr Don Pedro, the Coordinator of SON in Cross River, said that other mandates include the promotion of quality assurance, accurate testing and measurement regimes for trade and commerce to thrive in Nigeria.

    “Great emphasis is placed on the grooming of budding Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, using the instrument of standardisation.

    “This is to support the industrialisation efforts of the government as well as promote consumer safety,’’ Aboloma said.

  • Metrology institute vital for economic diversification – SON

    Metrology institute vital for economic diversification – SON

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says functional metrology institute is vital for economic diversification needed to improve the nation’s economy.

    The Director-General of SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma, said this at the 2017 World Metrology Day in Enugu on Tuesday.

    The event, which was organised by the Weights and Measures Department of Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and SON had the theme: “Measurements for Transport”.

    Aboloma said that functional metrology would support the accreditation of all products, especially export destined goods and services.

    “At present, metrology is still one of the fundamental factors enabling a successful modern and economic viability and a prosperous society.

    “This is what we do must depend in order to check disagreement in businesses, human activities as well as standard of life in general,” Aboloma, represented by Mrs. Oluremi Ayeni, a Director in the agency, said.

    On the theme, Aboloma said that every type of transport from bicycle to ship, from car to spacecraft, required to meet appropriate standards as the basis for domestic and international regulation.

    He said that such policies could specify essentials for every aspect of performance like safety, economy and emissions.

    “As demands for accessible and efficient transport increase so also for measurements and standards to underpin them.

    “Ultimately, some of the demands are met by new technologies like driverless cars and zero-emission vehicles – consecutively generating new measurement challenges,” Aboloma said.

    Delivering a lecture on “Measurements for Transport”, the Director of National Metrology Institute (NMI), Enugu, Mr. Obiora Manafa, said that transport remained a vital determinant in business as well as production.

    Manafa stressed on measurement in road, water, air, railway and pipeline modes of transportation.

    “Both the Holy Bible and Quran said that God is concerned about appropriate weights and measures.

    “The Holy books want people to applying appropriate weights and measures to avoid misunderstanding and cheating in business or human affairs,” he said.

    The director said that NMI conference coming up later this year would ensure that Nigerians products meet all standards; while the issue of rejection of any product from the country would be a thing of the past.

    A representative of the Weights and Measures Department of Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Ejiofor, advised Nigerians to seek standard measures in all their doings to establish integrity for their products or services.

    Ejiofor, however, called for the re-introduction of road weighing bridges as part of revenue generation for the Federal Government meant to fix or repair the roads at intervals.

    Highlights of the event was the inspection of the ongoing construction at the National Metrology Institute (NMI) being facilitated by the Federal Government with support funding from UNIDO and the European Union.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Metrology Day is an annual celebration since the Meter Convention was signed by countries on May 20, 1875.

    Nigeria chose to celebrate the Day on May 23 because the actual date fell on a Saturday.

  • SON seizes 213 assorted toiletries, organises sensitisation programmes in Kaduna

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), said on Monday it had seized no fewer than 213 substandard assorted toiletries in Kaduna in the first quarter of 2017.

    The state’s Coordinator of SON, Mr Danlami Datti, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna.

    Datti said SON’s objective was to promote the nation’s quality products and ensure availability of jobs for the populace.

    He said: ‘‘All products must be of quality standard before reaching consumers.

    ‘‘We are committed to flushing out any form of substandard goods in our market.

    ‘‘We warned manufacturers to desist from producing substandard goods; we will continue to be vigilant on such bad products and impound them.’’

    Datti said during the period under review, SON had organised six enlightenment and sensitisation programmes in the state.

    ‘‘We took sensitisation to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in Kaduna on the role of SON in skill acquisition and enterprise development.’’

    He added that the organisation had also conducted advocacy visits to secondary schools, and held sensitisation programmes on environmental management.

    ‘‘All the sensitisation programmes were aimed at enlightening the public on what SON is doing to rid Nigeria of substandard goods and make the environment safe to produce standard products.’’

  • SON wants Nigerians to buy certified products

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Friday advised Nigerians to patronise only its certified products to enable them get value for their money.
    The organisation also promised to continue to flush out substandard products.
    Its Director-General, Dr Osita Aboloma, made the call at the SON Special Day at the ongoing 2017 Enugu International Trade Fair.
    “While we warn the public of the consequences of using substandard products, we equally call on them to patronise mainly SON certified products as products that give value for money,’’ he said.
    Aboloma appealed to entrepreneurs to subscribe to the SON mandatory conformity assessment scheme for the growth of their enterprise as well as their market share.
    On export drive, the SON boss said that the agency had been working hard to ensure that all local products and farm produce met prescribed international standard and calibration.
    “The issue of rejection of our products and produce anywhere in the world is gradually becoming a thing of the past as SON is poised to make Nigerian products and farm produce the number one preferred in terms of quality and quantity specification,’’ he said.
    Rev. Ugochukwu Chime, the President, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), thanked SON for participating in the trade fair and for stimulating economic growth in the country.
    The Enugu International Trade Fair, which is being supported by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, is organised to showcase Nigeria’s non-oil products.
    The exhibition is also providing opportunity for local and foreign businesses to explore and access commercially viable markets in the South-East.
    The theme of the 28th edition of the fair, which will end on Monday, is: “Promoting Nigeria’s Industrial Sector and SMEs for Inclusive and Robust Economy”.

  • We are not involved in sale of speed limiting device – FRSC

    We are not involved in sale of speed limiting device – FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FSRC) has re-affirmed its position of non-involvement in the marketing of speed limiting devices for vehicles in the country.

    Spokesman of the agency, Mr Bisi Kazeem, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday that accredited vendors were in charge of sale and calibration of the device.

    ‘’There are accredited vendors screened by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and FRSC.

    ‘’They are the ones in charge of sale and calibration of the speed limiting device, not the FRSC,’’ he said.

    Kazeem was reacting to Thursday’s move by the Senate to stop the ongoing enforcement of the installation of the speed limiting device on vehicles by the FRSC.

    The President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, had asked the Committee on Federal Character to look into the matter following a point of order raised by Sen. Dino Melaye (APC – Kogi West).

    Media reports quoted Melaye as saying “the proposal by the FRSC to sell speed limiting device to car owners’’ would cause further economic hardship for Nigerians.

    ‘’If you have two cars you buy two speed limiting devices. This is not the time to bring economic hardship upon the already traumatised people of this country.

    ‘’In every civilised part of the world, it is the responsibility of road safety authorities or agencies to mount speed limiting devices on roads, and when you beat this speed, they charge you.

    ‘’To ask individuals to purchase the speed limiting device from road safety is unacceptable and this is even not the time to do it,” Melaye was quoted as saying.

    The FRSC began full enforcement of the installation of the device, which costs N35, 000, on commercial vehicles on Feb. 1, and planned to extend it to other categories of vehicles in due course.

    Kazeem said introduction of the policy was within the mandate of the commission, noting that the enforcement began since Feb. 1, and not about to begin as stated by the senator.

    He added that the House of Representatives had earlier endorsed the policy after a public hearing.

  • SON confisticates 1,000 bags of underweighed rice in Osogbo

    SON confisticates 1,000 bags of underweighed rice in Osogbo

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in Osun says it confiscated more than 1,000 underweighed bags of rice in Osogbo markets on Monday.

    Mr Sunday Badewole, the SON State Coordinator, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo on Tuesday.

    Badewole said the agency made the confiscation during the enforcement operation where more than 1,000 bags of 5kg, 10kg and 25kg of bags of rice were confiscated.

    He said many of the rice sellers had reduced the quantity of rice from the kilogrammes that were indicated on the bags, to make more money.

    Badewole said the observation carried out by the enforcement team of the agency in the markets during the raid revealed that rice sellers would remove some measures from the bags of rice and seal it back for sale.

    He said the quantities removed would thereafter be repackaged in another bag, sealed and sold to buyers.

    Badewole said the rice sellers confessed that they used to buy empty rice bags from Lagos to repackage the quantities that was stolen from the original bags.

    “Based on the information from our operations directorate headquarters that under weighed bags of rice were in circulation, we went to the market with our scale.

    “But it is very unfortunate that many of these small bags of rice have been reduced by the sellers to make more gain,’’ he said.

    Badewole said all the shops where the underweighed rice were found had been sealed and put on hold.

    He, however, said the confiscated bags of rice would not be destroyed but rather rectification and would be carried out by the sellers under the supervision of SON’s enforcement unit.

    “Since the intention is not to further destroy the economic strength, the option we will probably put forward is rectification and fine.

    “That is, we will ensure that all the bags of rice that were underweighed are filled up to the normal kilogrammes under our supervision, before they are put up for sale, because that is what the standard says,’’ he said.

    Badewole said any rice sellers that refused to carryout rectification would forfeit all the underweighed rice to SON.

    He noted that the exercise was a continuous one, and warned rice sellers against shortchanging people.

    “I want to warn rice sellers to always ensure that their bags contain the right quantity of the produce.

    “They should stop deceiving people and allow people to have value for their money,’’ he said.

    Badewole, who noted that the raids would soon be carried to all the supermarkets in the state, said the organisation would not relent in its efforts at sanitising the system. 

  • Nigerians advised to regularly test their borehole water

    The Federal Government has advised Nigerians who drink borehole water to test the quality regularly to reduce its negative impact.

    Mrs Elizabeth Ugoh, the Deputy Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, stated this in Abuja on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    She said the ministry was working with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), to enforce the National Standard for Drinking Water Quality toward ensuring the quality of water being supplied to the public.

    “The ministry is calling on all Nigerians drinking water from the borehole and other sources to regularly test their water in laboratories across the country to reduce consuming unwholesome water.

    “We are also calling on borehole drillers to abide by the National Drilling Code of Practice”, she added.

    According to her, six new laboratories are being constructed in the six geo-political zones by the Federal Government to improve water quality and standard in the country.

    Ugoh said that the six existing laboratories were inadequate due to the country’s large population.

    “We have six operational laboratories; we are building additional six now.

    “Our target is that each state will have one, so that all together, we will have 37 laboratories in the whole federation.

    “In order to ascertain the quality of water consumed by the people, the need for more laboratories cannot be over emphasised.

    “The laboratories take care of the chemical side of testing for water, the micro-biological side where the pathogens that cause diseases are discovered.

    “When the physical aspects of water have been sorted out, the chemical aspect of it has to be taken care of by the laboratories”, she stressed.

    The deputy director said when quality potable water is made available, most water-borne diseases would be reduced, saying they accounted for the majority of tropical diseases in the country.

    “Seventy per cent of tropical diseases are water-borne.

    “If we provide potable water, all occurrences of water-borne diseases like typhoid, cholera, diarrhoea, and scabies will be non-existent.’’

    She, however, said that people could prevent the diseases by using test kits to test for iron, magnesium and other essential elements.

    The deputy director maintained that laboratories were necessary for more thorough tests on water for consumption.

    She said it was a matter for regret that diarrhoea alone kills no fewer than 150,000 under-five children annually.

    According to her, diarrhoea is responsible for one-quarter of all child deaths for the poorest Nigerians as this requires collective efforts to tackle.

    “We are testing villages under our comprehensive Rural Water Surveillance Programme, for now, we are supplying the kits, we believe one day it will be available everywhere’’, she said.

    On guidelines for drinking water quality, Ugoh explained that WHO has the sole responsibility of providing guidelines.

    She, however, stated that the ministry had a National Drinking Water Standard already in place.

    To this end, she noted that the ministry was working with all stakeholders to strengthen river basins across the country to increase access to potable water for the populace.

  • New standards for rice harvesting, processing – SON

    New standards for rice harvesting, processing – SON

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), says it has developed new standards for rice seeds, harvest, milling, drying and hygiene practice for processing and storage of rice in the country.

    The Director-General of the organisation, Mr Osita Aboloma, said this in Abuja on Tuesday at the 3rd Nigeria Rice Investment Forum organised by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

    Represented by Dr Barth Ugwu, the Head, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) office of the organisation, Aboloma said the standards, developed in 2016 was to improve the quality of paddy and milled rice.

    He said that total compliance with the standards would ensure zero rejection of the country’s agricultural products at the international markets.

    The director-general listed some of the quality parameters embedded in the standards to include germination, huskless seed, pesticides, residues, packaging, labelling and storage.

    “The focus of these developed standards is to provide guidance and recommendations to both small and large operators involved in growing and processing of rice to raise product quality.

    “The use of these standards will provide rice farmers, processors and transporters proper ground to produce safe food that can compete favourably in the international markets.

    “The implementation of these standards will promote the development of the rice industry in Nigeria and grow the rice value chain,’’ he said.

    The Chief Executive Officer, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Business Group, Mrs Gloria Akobundu, said that increase in agricultural production was crucial to promoting the country’s economy.

    Akobundu said that increasing in rice production in the country would guarantee economic growth.

    According to her, an average Nigerian citizen consumes over 24.5 kilogrammes of rice annually, adding that the nation`s production level of 3.5 million tonnes of rice annually is insufficient.

    She said that the theme of the forum entitled: “2018 Self Sufficiency in Rice Production: Opportunities, Challenges and Road Ahead’’, was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan to diversify the economy.

    “Nigeria is the second highest importer of rice in the world and the highest in Africa,’’ she said.

    Mr Hiroshi Kodama, the Senior Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), said the agency had assisted Nigerian farmers in rice milling and processing in Niger and Nasarawa States.

    He said the agency would extend its assistance to other states of the federation to boost rice production in the country.

    Earlier, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, commended NEPAD for its efforts toward boosting rice production in the country.

    Represented by Mr Obinna Opara, an official at the Cereals Unit of the ministry, Ogbeh said the Federal Government would rehabilitate irrigation facilities and support farmers with farm inputs.

    He assured that the country would meet its target of attaining self-sufficiency in rice production by 2018.