Gilbert Ekwufbe
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has charged aluminium manufacturers to adhere strictly to global best practices in all their operations.
The Director General, SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, at a stakeholders’ forum on growing components of the building and construction sectors via standardisation, said the move is part of SON’s resolve to sanitise the nation of fake roofing sheet products as well as sensitising the stakeholders in the industry to always insist doing things the right way to compete favourably at the international scene.
Represented by the Director, Lagos Operations, SON, Mrs. Yeside Akinlabi, he said the agency is calling on stakeholders in the aluminum roofing sheet sector to adhere strictly to standard quality parameters during production.
According to him, the compliance to the requirements of standard would facilitate certification from SON.
“The objective is to encourage excellent quality products and healthy competition among stakeholders. l advise the leadership of the sector to show leadership commitment, analyse factory and market samples, create consumer awareness and engage in regular trainings and voluntary competition to ensure quality,” he advised.
“We expect a good operating environment that will engender best practices. It will be a morale booster for people working for you.We would want you to report adulterated products to SON. To the consumers do not buy any market product without MANCAP logo. It does not matter where it comes from. It is a sign that the product has not been certified,” Salim said.
He pointed out that SON is not just interested in selling and implementing the standard, but also want to see businesses expand.
“We want to collaborate with you to make it easier for SON to implement and enforce standards by giving us information on infraction,” he urged.
On his part, the Chairman, Association of Secondary Aluminium Producers (ASAP), Augustine Ani, said the agency stands for quality and standards that have guided aluminium manufacturers in their respective lines of businesses.
“We want to say a big thank you to SON for their cooperation so far and for the sensitisation programme which would take us to the next level,” he said.
The Head of Department, Quality (Rolling and Melting), African Steel Mills, Shailesh Kumar, said SON’s enforcement exercises have helped aluminium manufacturers in the country to boost their production capacities, stressing that the agency is always around the corner to throw their full weight behind local production.
