Did you know that there is a government body in Nigeria known as the Standard Organisation of Nigeria? Do you know what the purpose of the organisation is?
Just keep reading to know more about one of the important bodies in Nigeria. Standardization is the process of developing and implementing of technical standards based on the agreement of different entities that include governments, standard organisations, firms, interest groups, and users. They are in charge of all the products, processes and scientific study of measurement standards in Nigeria.
The Acts has had several amendments since then. The last amendment was made to give more power to the organisation to penalize offenders and also add more functions to the work of the organisation. The Standard Organisation of Nigeria has the following departments:. In order to consolidate on its achievement in the last two years, the Agency has reiterated its commitment towards ensuring that the Agreement, which it initiated, in respect of trade relations between the Governments of China and Nigeria is signed this year.
These are parts of the Agency's activities towards ensuring quality assurance, best practices and globally acceptable standards of all products in the Nigerian market. The Agency has also reassured all brand owners and stakeholders that it still maintains its zero tolerance and shall prosecute perpetrators of sub-standard goods, particularly in its importation, manufacture, distribution and sales. The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter.
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It is also part of the information that we share to our content providers "Contributors" who contribute Content for free for your use. Learn More Accept. International Law. Nigeria: Standards Organisation Of Nigeria. To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq. Uche Nwokocha. Most of these standards are simply applied. But for manufacturers of products in Nigeria, including well known brands these still have to meet the standards of SON.
But what stops goods not up to standards to be imported into Nigeria? Originally, SON was at the ports to check standards but lately they have been withdrawn. SON also is empowered to carry out market surveys to see whether what is sold meets standards. To do this, the SON should have an army of inspectors and vehicles to send out and collect goods for examination in their laboratories.
Some of the regional offices of SON there are only four have two vehicles to be used by few inspectors. Moreover, public awareness campaigns are necessary as the public know little about SON. Just testing the number of pure water makers in Lagos alone would demand a lot of people. Or testing the various fuels used in Nigeria must be a mammoth task, even before adding the plethora of creams and tooth pastes, soft drinks and other beverages.
Technically, there should be no substandard goods in Nigeria if SON is working efficiently. It knows where most of the substandard goods come from into Nigeria: ideally our inspectors or eyes should be in and on those countries. There is a whole lot of substandard goods in Nigeria, especially electrical goods, some of which may lead to death — wires used for buildings, steel rods that are substandard, long life bulbs which are not long life; everyone has had experience of buying goods which are below standards.
Standard Organisation of Nigeria SON needs to train its inspectors better, and the Nigerian factor must be exterminated in the organisation. Even the factories in Nigeria cut corners and produce below standard goods; palm oil makers are now introducing some chemicals to make the oil redder! The Standard Organisation of Nigeria SON with all these powers, like all the other organisations listed in the beginning of this article, cannot undertake an investigation on quality unless a complaint was made to it.
A few years ago Toyota and Volkswagen made confessions about mechanical defects in their vehicles. There was a world wide recall of their vehicles to replace the malfunctioning parts. Nothing happened in Nigeria. I could not understand how a matter that was in international reports needed a further report from me to galvanise SON into action. There was not one organisation or car dealer that the owners of defective cars had recourse even when the manufacturers had claimed responsibility.
The consumer associations said nothing, civil liberties were quiet. The Minister of Foreign Affairs said nothing, nor did either of the ministers of trade or industry. How can we be taken seriously when someone who had sold you a lemon admits it and writes you to get a refund and no one goes because the officials responsible could not care less?
To be continued tomorrow.
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