Economy
ABUBAKAR Dangaladima, Director, Weights and Measures Department (WMD), says the department has adopted proactive modalities to promote effective utilisation of legal metrology in trade to fast track revival of the national economy in the post-COVID-19 era.
Dangaladima made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a legal metrology workshop on Friday in Kano.
The director, who spoke through Mr Salim Mohammed, Assistant Director, Surveillance, Standards and Metrological Data of the department said that proper application of metrology would herald the implementation of the Federal Government’s initiative to achieve sustainable economic development.
“Legal metrology is critical to the revival and sustainability of the economy of every country.
“For instance, if you count the number of measuring and weighing equipment coming into the country, it is in millions, different models, and the department has to issue approval of patent to each equipment before it is put to use in the country; that is one aspect in the chains of revenues.
“When the equipment is installed in the premises where it is to be used, you have to invite the department to go and check whether it is within the tolerable limits of error provided by the law.
“An Opening Source Services; you also pay verification fees which amounts to huge revenues to the government.
“Periodically, we go to premises to re-confirm our earlier test, if you are found wanting, you pay fine and charges.
“It is one key driver of the economy of every country. Trade is all about confidence and trust, and that is what we provide.
“If the customer feels confidence to buy, and the buyer feels confidence because the system is a level playing ground for ease of doing businesses.”
Dangaladima said that part of the mandate of WMD was to ensure that measuring or weighing equipment in business transactions were accurate and operated in accordance to the regulations.
“Our activities is to confirm that what is given to the customer is accurate and not short change, on the other hand even the seller might not be giving in excess of what he sells.”
According to him, the department is monitoring business sectors of the economy such as open market, industries, gas plants, petrol stations, manufacturing and export terminals to enforce compliance with the standard regulations.
On his part, Mr Auwal Uba, the Zonal Coordinator in charge of the Northwest Zone said the department had embarked on comprehensive awareness creation activities to sensitise business communities in the zone on the importance of legal metrology in trade.
Uba said the department had so far organised stakeholders workshop in Kano State as well as community sensitisation through distribution of pamphlets, radio jingles and other programmes designed to create better understating of weights and measurement in the region. (NAN)
– Sept. 4, 2020 @ 16:55 GMT |
Tags: Weights and Measures catalyst for national economic recovery – Official
