SON well-positioned to deliver on mandate – Minister

By Merit Ibe

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Owan Enoh, has said that with the structure of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the organisation is positioned to deliver on its mandate on time and effectively without compromising standards.

The minister made the remark during his visit to the SON laboratory complex at Ogba, Lagos, at the weekend, where he noted that the organisation has the capacity to police manufactured goods to ensure quality.

Enoh was optimistic that the SON team appreciates the enormity of its mandate and strategy, noting that the organisation’s duty is challenging, given its responsibility to enforce, elaborate, and reveal standards, which involve various reactions from the government and Nigerians.

He urged the organisation not to be a clog in the wheel of progress, as the government aims to deliver quickly on various procurement laws. He advised SON to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in its operations without unnecessary delays.

Appreciating the resilience of the organisation despite challenges encountered in the course of its duty, the minister advised SON not to lower its standards but to deliver promptly to the government.

“The structure of SON, according to the Director General’s explanation on the capacity of the laboratories and their locations across various commands and zones in the country, makes the organisation well-positioned to deliver quickly and effectively. With commands in different zones, as you continue to evolve, the zones will be decentralised with sufficient mobile equipment.

“As you discharge your work in conformity with standards, there is a need to deliver quickly on what the government requires.”

He applauded the present and past leadership of the organisation, noting that as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, “the seventh point of the agenda, which pertains to this sector, will bring SON into greater relevance as we continue to deliver on it.”

The minister also noted that one of his mandates, in terms of the ministry’s programmes, is the promotion of Made-in-Nigeria goods and services.

He said he was determined to move beyond mere discussions to the necessary actions that would ensure the delivery of quality products.

“My team and I are determined that this mandate, which has existed for too long, must now move beyond words to action. We must ensure we deliver, and as we get set, quality products will be key in advancing Made-in-Nigeria goods and services. We need quality goods that will be competitive both within and outside the country.

“So, SON should be prepared for a national campaign.”

The minister also decried the counterfeiting of original Made-in-Nigeria products, vowing to protect local companies to boost employment.

“The experience I’ve had in the last three days on the matter of counterfeit products is terrible. Local manufacturers of high-quality products are losing out in the market to fake products brought in through smuggling to compete with our local products.

“Together with SON, we will protect these companies that believe in our country and President Tinubu. That is our duty. We have to create jobs for Nigerians too.”

In his address, the SON Director General, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, said the minister’s visit underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s quality infrastructure in alignment with the Renewed Hope agenda of the president.

Okeke appreciated the minister’s guidance in advancing Nigeria’s industrial sector growth.

He said SON, as a regulatory institution, plays a pivotal role in realising the Renewed Hope agenda by ensuring that quality and standardisation remain central to national development.

Pointing out that the SON laboratory serves as the bedrock of conformity assessment, providing essential testing and analysis across critical sectors—including mechanical engineering, energy, food safety, petroleum products, and microbiology—he said these activities directly support the Federal Government’s drive towards economic diversification, industrialisation, and global competitiveness.

The SON boss further explained that the organisation oversees standards in Nigeria.

“In Africa, we have ARSO (African Regional Organisation for Standardisation), which oversees standards across the continent. We also have ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation), which is based in Switzerland.”

He added that testing in the laboratories is also part of SON’s mandate.

“We conduct product tests to ensure our processes are effective for our clients, who are manufacturers.

“We test their samples and products to ensure they comply with our established standards.

“This need led to the development of an edifice like this (the laboratory complex) to house our laboratory facilities. The idea originated in 2000 when we acquired this site, and we commenced construction of this gigantic edifice in 2013.

“This compound spans about 10,000 square metres, approximately one hectare. Over time, we have spent about ₦15 billion on this facility, including the structure and the equipment on site.

“We also have regional laboratories across the six geopolitical zones of the country to ensure that our services reach everyone who needs them.

“We have laboratories in Kaduna, Uyo, Awka, Bauchi, Abuja, and this one in Lagos. This ensures we can effectively serve our clientele.

“We also have our Mobile Testing Laboratory, which caters to clients with heavy equipment that cannot be easily moved. In 2024, I launched the Mobile Testing Laboratory here to enable us to visit clients and test their equipment on-site.

“We can also conduct tests at ports to assess heavy-duty equipment upon clearance, ensuring they meet our established standards.

“We also provide metrological services in collaboration with the Nigerian Metrological Institute in Enugu, another facility we would like you to visit.

“Additionally, we carry out calibration services to ensure equipment is traceable, accurate in measurement, and reliable. We also collaborate with the private sector to recalibrate their equipment in line with standards.

“The Minimum National Standard is housed at SON and in our laboratory in Enugu.

“In summary, this laboratory is the largest in West Africa, and this achievement is due to the hard work of my predecessors and myself in ensuring the facility’s timely completion. So far, we have reached about 95% completion.”