15/08/2006
The Special Adviser to the President on Export has expressed satisfaction with the patronage extended to made-in-Nigeria goods abroad especially within the West African sub-region.
Mrs. Modupe Sasore made this remark while speaking at the quarterly meeting of the Ports Consultative Council in Lagos recently.
The Special Adviser to the President on Export who also doubles as the Chief Executive of Nigerian Export Promotion Council, who was represented by the Zonal Manager of Nigerian Export promotion Council, Ms. Omowumi Osibo, stated that the Special Adviser attributed the healthy development to the dogged efforts of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in ensuring that local manufacturers conform with relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) specifications, which according to her is a benchmark for quality.
She called for adequate support for SON to enable it continue to monitor and encourage local companies as well as check the influx of sub-standard goods, which according to her poses a serious threat to the economy.
Earlier in his address, the Director-General of SON, Dr. John Akanya had said Nigeria had about 227 entry points into the country some of which are not manned by his organisation coupled with the fact that his staff at these points are not armed.
It was against theses backdrop, he said, that an offshore conformity assessment programme was initiated by his organisation to forestall importation of substandard and unwholesome goods into the country.
Akanya noted that “building the country requires the collective efforts of every Nigerian” stressing that his organisation cannot tackle the burden of faking and adulteration of products without the collaboration and support of her stakeholders.
Meanwhile the poultry farmers in the country have been assured of rapid and qualitative growth of their birds by ensuring that only standard and quality feeds are allowed into the market.
A press release signed by the Head of Public Relations Department, M. Adebola Fashina and made available to our correspondent in Lagos, stated that the Director-General of SON, made the remarks at an opening meeting with poultry feed millers and Poultry Farmers association of Nigeria in Lagos recently.
Dr. Akanya, who was duly represented by the Head of Standards, Engr. Charles Okoro, however said that his boss was happy with the positive impact of poultry business to the country, assuring of his organisation’s readiness to continue to assist Nigeria’s dominance of the poultry market within the West African sub-region.
Responding, the President of Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria, Chief O. Badmus appealed to SON to organise training programmes on Hazards Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) for his members to enhance their knowledge.
