NIGERIA – The Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria(SON) Mallam Farouk Salim, has urged the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN) and SON to solidify their relationship in order to boost industrialization, to enable Nigeria maximize the potentials of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Salim, who spoke at the 51st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of MAN held at Radisson Blu hotel, Lagos, enjoined all manufacturers to adhere strictly to standards, to ensure that the Nigerian market is poised to gain from the investments and trade opportunities that the AfCFTA agreement will inevitably bring.

“The fight against substandard products is an ongoing battle which requires every sector of the economy to be involved for orderliness in all manufacturing processes, in line with international best practices which will result in the growth of the country, because where there are no standards, there will be  chaos, which creates war, banditry and a host of other unpleasant outcomes,” the SON helmsman emphasized In a paper presentation titled “Standards: An Imperative for Competitive Manufacturing in a Continental and Global Market”.

The Executive Governor, Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo – Olu represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperative, Mrs. Adetutu Oluremi Ososanya encouraged stakeholders at the event to embrace standardization and quality assurance in order to ensure acceptability, profitability thereby improving customer confidence in Made in Nigeria products.

Sanwo-Olu, promised that his government will continue to make policies that will boost commercial activities in the state.

In his address, the National President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Engr. Mansur Ahmed, said his association remains fully committed to ensuring synergy in its working relationship with SON.

“Standards are the heart of productivity and sensibility, because they minimize cost, optimize productivity and profitability,” he said.

He lamented that the country was lagging behind in manufacturing saying, “We are weak because we depend on imported goods. No country survives on importation but on consuming what they produce.”

He implored SON not to relent in its efforts of upholding standardization, assuring the organization of MAN’s continuous cooperation in the economic diversification agenda of the government.

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