SON, NPA collaborate to boost Nigeria’s export/import trade
Determined to boost Nigeria’s export and import trade, through standard and quality products, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has entered into strategic partnership with the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to tackle the influx of sub-standard products into the country.
The synergizing arrangement by the two key federal agencies becomes critically crucial for the overall good of the nation’s economy especially concerning ways to tackle the issue of sub-standard products in order to allow the circulation and sale of only quality products in the country. This would create jobs, employment opportunities, increase revenue as well as grow the nation’s economy.
At a strategic meeting on Wednesday in Lagos between the Director General, SON Mallam Farouk Salim and the managing director of Nigeria Ports Authority, Muhammed Bello-Koko together with their teams, both agencies agreed on the need for effective collaboration and synergy in order to ensure result-oriented and seamless operations.
Both agencies also agreed to collaborate to promote speedy processing of goods for exports, maintaining that it would help to increase the nation’s non-oil exports.
According to Bello Koko, SON’s participation at the inspection and examination of cargoes with its technical expertise and equipments would help to reduce time frame in the clearance processes at the nation’s entry points.
“We work with SON to ensure it discharges its duty effectively. I am sure SON will also work with other sister agencies without issues,“ the NPA boss said.
Bello-Koko further said that SON would also play active role in the Export Processing Zones meant to fast-track Nigeria’s exports drive and promotion.
He explained that as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to boost Nigeria’s foreign trade via exports, NPA and SON would collaborate on the Export Processing Zone to ensure quality goods and services.
The NPA M.D. also disclosed that both organisations would deliberate on the personnel and equipment to be utilized following the presidential approval for Export Processing Terminals.
Farouk Salim
Earlier in his remarks, DG, SON, Mallam Farouk Salim regretted that the influx of substandard products has been a big challenge in the concerted efforts of relevant agencies and stakeholders towards growing the nation’s economy.
According to him, the situation has been partly responsible for the increase of unemployment rate and poor wealth creation in the country, adding that all hands should be on deck to tackle the problem.
Farouk said SON would be ready to avail its services such as Management Systems Certifications and other training services to NPA personnel to increase efficient service delivery.
On his part, the NPA Managing Director said that he would present the NPA Academy Curriculum to attract SON input while welcoming SON offer to train the staff.
He commended the leadership of SON for piloting various initiatives not only to repositioning SON but to achieve the agency’s statutory mandate.