Business

THE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says it has flagged off its Mobile Calibration Vehicles and Measurement Instruments in Ogun.

Its Director-General and Chief Executive, Malam Farouk Salim, made this known while inaugurating the equipment at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto in Abeokuta.

Salim said that the programme was in line with the SON’s mandate on quality assurance and standardisation.

The director-general, represented by Mrs Salitu Ethan, the SON Director for South-West Regional Operation, said the organisation was vested with the responsibility of formulation, issuing and enforcement of the Nigerian Industrial Standards (Standardisation).

He said the calibration tools are powerful tools that would help increase productivity through production of quality goods, better utilisation of resources, elimination of waste, protection of the environment and removal of trade barriers.

“SON has deemed it fit to bring Metrology, which is the bedrock of accurate measurements, to the stakeholders’ doorsteps in Ogun, being the hub of industrial activities in the country.

“Metrology also provides the basis for acceptance or rejection of goods or resolution of consequential disputes for assessing local and international markets, which improves the economic stability and viability of the country.

“A lot has been done in the areas of quality regulations and enforcement of standards, but more still need to be done to reduce the production and circulation of substandard products through metrology, standardisation and conformity assessment activities.

“The organisation, under my watch, wants to unleash calibration services through mobile laboratory facilities toward expanding our services across the country,” he said.

Salim said that imbibing the culture of regular calibration of equipment, would operators to get it right and save lives, while economic development is assured.

He said that with SON’s state-of-the-art mobile calibration services, remote areas would be served, thereby enhancing the nation’s economic growth.

Salim, however, outlined some other benefits of calibration services.

According to him, they include: Catalyst for compliance monitoring and control of sub-standard products across the country.

“Promote mass production for industries and businesses;
facilitate transactions in business, trade and commerce.

“Fast-track overall industrial growth, especially development of MSMEs across the country, Access to new market, prevent trade barriers, open up global markets, increase market share, as well as increase productivity and reducing cost,” he said.

Also, Mr Bade Obaye, the Director, National Metrology Institute (NMI) who enlightened stakeholders on benefits of calibration, said it would allow producer to have access to more market and more profit.

According to Obaye this is because the manufacturer is producing with equipment that are calibrated and having accurate measurements.

He, however, said the programme was slated for five days, adding, SON “has brought their services which are under Metrology (the science of measurement) close to the people of Ogun.

“We have brought the vehicles and equipment to service industries in Ogun for the next five days so that people will take advantage of this best equipment to do the calibration.

“This will enable their products to comply with specification and can be accepted else where, especially now that Nigeria is keying into the African continental free trade agreement.

“It would enable our products to move beyond the shores of this country and receive the much need foreign exchange they need to increase the GDP of this country,” Obaye said.

In his remarks, Mr Kehinde Shogunle, the state Public Relations Officer, expressed confidence in SON, commending them for bringing the calibration equipment close to manufactures in the state.

Shogunle, the National Executives Committee member of the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria, said the programme was a very golden opportunity.

“Measurement or anything called calibration is a very important aspect of production.

“We are businessmen and we want to make profit with metrology so that we can maximise our profit, because without accurate measurement, you can’t maximise your profit,” he said.(NAN)

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Tags: Malam Farouk Salim Mrs Salitu Ethan SON