Nigeria, not a dumping ground for substandard products — DG, SON

By Angel-Linda Ike

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) said the organization is working tirelessly through challenges to ensure Nigeria does not become a dumping ground for substandard products.

The Director General of SON, Ifeanyi Okeke made this known at a one day sensitization workshop for members of Commerce and Industry Correspondent Association of Nigeria(CICAN), in Abuja.

The DG who was represented by the Director of Public Relation, Foluso Bolaji, said SON has embarked on various initiatives to support local productions and boost trade in line with International best practices.

Recalling the recent feat the agency achieved in the rating by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Okeke said SON and it’s staff have worked tirelessly to provide the enabling tools to upgrade its services to an enviable spot through digitalization.

“You are all aware of the current rating by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) for its 2024 Half Year Transparency and Efficiency Compliant Report for January 2024 to June 2024. The Organization came second with 78.2%, among twenty (20) Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for transparency in service delivery.

“This did not come easy as the Organisation has provided the enabling tools to upgrade our services to an enviable spot through digitalization. The Staff are also part of the success story as they worked tirelessly all through challenges to ensure the Country is does not become a dumping ground for substandard products as well as supporting local productions.

“We are committed to improving on our communication with stakeholders at all levels to get greater buy-in into our programmes and activities that will be targeted at their satisfaction, protection, welfare and positive growth of the nation’s economy”, he said.

He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to regulating and providing standards to ensure quality and enforce violations within the provisions of the Act that established it.

He however called for support on the journey of standardization, to bring about industrialization and economic development in the country.