SON, SGS Sign Agreement on Quality Imports

• SON, SGS Sign Agreement on Quality Imports

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has entered into a partnership agreement with SGS to build technical capacities in the country. The agency also took delivery of textile testing machines donated by SGS.

SGS is a multinational company with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland providing inspection, verification, testing and certification services.

According to SON, the pact will ensure that only goods that meet minimum requirements of the Nigerian Industrial Standards are traded in the Nigerian markets.

A statement quoted the Director-General, SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma, as saying that Nigeria’s economic and industrial growth depended on the standard and quality of products in circulation.

He added that it was critical to ensure that imported products met high quality benchmarks, which would in turn stop the dumping of substandard imports in Nigeria.

He said the IAFs were very critical to achieve the agency’s agenda to reduce influx of substandard goods in the country.

He tasked the IAFs to continue their fair dealings and honesty with the agency, especially towards issuance of SON’s Conformity Assessment Programme certificates for importers.

Aboloma stressed that the present administration planned to discourage unwholesome imports while targeting economic diversification.

He said, “Your kind gesture to the agency demonstrates the level of your firm’s commitment towards helping the nation to grow industrially. We want to assure you that these machines will be properly deployed and adequately put into use by our laboratory services department.

“On our own part, we are intensifying efforts towards building capacities and quality infrastructure. We will in no distant time complete and accredit more laboratories. Through the development of standard laboratories, locally made products will enjoy high patronage at home and abroad. This is part of our strategies towards economic diversification (oil-to non-oil sector) and industrial growth.”