SON to enhance manufacturing, export with licensed laboratories

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has disclosed plans to improve manufacturing industry of the country with its recently licensed laboratories.

The SON declared on Thursday that it was also aiming an improved level of export of locally made goods to the global market.

The Director-General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, stated this during the inauguration of the laboratories licensed by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation in Ogba, Lagos.

Salim declared that manufacturers would be stimulated to produce more, stating that products approved and tested in the licensed laboratories would be accepted worldwide.

The DG stated that several manufacturers had said that their products were rejected even by local companies owing to their products not being accredited.

He said, “But now, that excuse is out of the way. With the certification, it is easy for them to export to anywhere in the world because an accredited laboratory means that whatever we say is good is good. It gives the nation credibility; it gives our manufacturers credibility.”

Salim stated that the licensed laboratories would assist with saving foreign exchange as manufacturers ‘do not have to go to neighbouring countries to get their products certified anymore’.

He said, “We are allowed to export to the United States; now, with the accreditation, showing that our products are up to standard, it means it would be easier for exporters to export to America and every other country in the world. So, it makes things easier because there are legitimacy and authentication.

“The consumers abroad will have the confidence to buy goods coming from Nigeria because the certification shows that the goods have been tested and verified okay for consumption.”

As indicated by him, there are plans to set up more laboratories in the nation in an effort to guarantee that goods can be tested anywhere in the nation.

Salim appealed to shareholders in the industry to give their share towards its pursuit to establish more world-class laboratories in the nation.

He said, “Our main plan is that in every state, there should be a minimum of some laboratory activity that can be done because we do not want people travelling from one state to another because of testing.”