AfCFTA: Manufacturers harp on need to decentralize SON operations

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has harped on the need to decentralize testing facilities of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) across the zones of the country for effective participation in African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

The National Vice President of MAN, North West Zone, Alhaji Ali Madugu made the call in Kano while when he received the Director General, SON, Mallam Farouk Salim who visited the state recently.

He advocated the need to build additional Laboratories in Kano and other parts of the country, contrary to the present practice where they throng now and then at the SON headquarters in Abuja to process import documents.

Madugu underscored the need for SON’s quality verification of all imported products including those from West African Countries, even with the rule of origin in the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme.

With the commencement of the AfCFTA, the need for SON’s presence at the entry points becomes necessary to avert turning the country into a dumping ground for substandard, fake and counterfeited products from other African Countries.

He acknowledged the need for product authentication as an additional tool to fight faking, adulteration and unfair competition with substandard products in the market and urged SON to look at the best way to implement it without putting genuine manufacturers at disadvantage in terms of cost and the procedure for compliance.

The approach of the SON DG, Salim over the plight of the about 140-member strong, North West branch of MAN according to the National Vice President has been highly commended.

Of commendation was the protection of local manufacturers’ MANCAP certified products from adulteration and faking of their brands in Nigeria and overseas as well as unfair competition with substandard imports.

Other members of the North West Branch of MAN Executive Committee called for an upgrade and enlightenment of members on the SON offshore conformity assessment programme (SONCAP) portal, as well as the inspection procedure, sampling and testing relating to the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) for locally manufactured products.

Mallam Salim in his response said SON would set up and provide technical assistance and support to genuine local manufacturers as well as protect them from unfair competition from substandard products.

He acknowledged their sacrifices through investment in infrastructure, creation of job opportunities and regular payment of taxes as part of growing the Nation’s wealth and assured them of his commitment and support.

To this end, Salim stated, “We need to partner with MAN to protect genuine manufacturers and legitimate importers by sharing intelligence to apprehend and prosecute standards infractions. With adequate consequences for actions, most people will follow the rules.”

He decried the current situation where SON is unable to carry out quality verification of all its regulated imported products at the points of entry nor accost suspected substandard products outside the ports.

Efficient service delivery according to Salim remains his focus and invited MAN to pull forces together with SON for collective success in the interest of the Nation’s economy and the wellbeing of its people.

The DG however asked the MAN and other stakeholders to look forward to seamless and robust deployment of information communication technology to enhance the agency’s delivery of efficient services and an appreciable reduction in turnaround time for standards development, product certification and registration amongst others.

He invited MAN members to work with SON to further protect their brands through the deployment of a product authentication scheme to empower Consumers at the point of purchase.

“We need a symbiotic relationship to succeed without loss of business and relevance.
While I call for genuine partnership with MAN and other Stakeholders, SON would not back down from implementing the law by diligent prosecution of standards infractions”, he concluded.