220+ Nigerian Products Certified for AfCFTA Market — SON

More than 220 products manufactured by 131 Nigerian companies have been certified to adopted African Standards, positioning them to compete more effectively in the continental market under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, disclosed this in a statement issued to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

Okeke said Nigeria had recently received the ARSO Quality Mark Award from the African Organisation for Standardisation, describing the recognition as evidence of the growing alignment of Nigerian products with continental quality requirements.

He said compliance with African standards was critical to expanding the market opportunities available to Nigerian manufacturers, particularly under AfCFTA, where conformity with agreed standards is an important requirement for accessing regional markets.

According to him, SON has developed 62 new Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) in the past three years and adopted Codex standards for locally produced agricultural commodities, including root and tuber flours, to promote value addition and improve the export readiness of Nigerian products.

Okeke said the enforcement of NIS was also contributing to efforts to translate ongoing economic reforms into greater stability for businesses and consumers.

He stressed the importance of standardisation to Nigeria’s industrial development, noting that sustainable economic growth would depend on the country’s ability to produce quality goods capable of competing both domestically and internationally.

“A nation cannot consume its way to greatness; it must produce its way there. However, production without standardisation is an exercise in futility,” he said.

The SON boss warned that substandard products could undermine national economic resources, endanger consumers and damage Nigeria’s reputation in international markets.

To strengthen support for small businesses, Okeke said SON had expanded its quality infrastructure through the establishment of new State Office and Laboratory Complexes in Minna and Sokoto.

He said the facilities would bring testing and calibration services closer to manufacturers and help reduce delays and costs associated with product certification and quality assessment.

The agency has also expanded its digital infrastructure with the launch of the Digital Standards Platform (DSP), designed to improve access to standards across the country.

Okeke said SON had further deployed the Electronic Product Identification Scheme (e-PIS), Product Identification Scheme (PIS) and Special Economic Zones Conformity Assessment Programme (SEZCAP) to improve product tracking and conformity assessment across the value chain.

He added that the agency had strengthened its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) through the rebranding of its certification logo and tighter inspection procedures.

SON has also commissioned a 200kW solar power system at its laboratory complex in Ogba, Lagos, which Okeke said would support uninterrupted laboratory operations.

The SON chief, however, called for stronger collaboration among the agency, the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority and security agencies to facilitate the sharing of real-time market intelligence and strengthen the fight against substandard and counterfeit products.

He urged manufacturers to maintain quality standards, traders to reject fake products and consumers to patronise locally manufactured goods as Nigeria seeks to strengthen its position in the African market.