Buoyed by the opportunities which Nigeria’s signatory to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) holds for Nigerian investors, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has equipped local steel producers for competitiveness in both continental and global markets.
AfCFTA has made Africa one of the largest economic blocks in the world and allows investors free movement on the continent. That means investors, especially producers, have to be competitive by embracing global best practice in terms of quality and standard.
SON is currently spearheading the harmonisation of standards within Africa and the West African sub-region, urging Nigerian steel producers to not only take advantage of the biggest market in Africa, but the world over.
Osita Aboloma, the organisation’s Director General, told steel producers at an emergency meeting that the gathering was basically to prepare operators of the organised steel sector on the need to adhere to quality for their goods to be acceptable within Nigeria and at the global market.
“If you adhere to standards in Nigeria, your goods will be accepted anywhere in the world because of the AfCFTA Nigeria has signed to. Almost all the African countries that have subscribed to the agreement will use the harmonised standards to achieve seamless trade activities and for breaking technical barriers to trade,” he explained.
According to him, the steel sector was one of the most formidable sectors in Nigeria where the nation had the competitive and comparative advantage to earn lots of foreign reserve, while also creating wealth and job opportunities.
Refering to the recent raids the agency embarked on to ensure sanity in the steel sector, he said the raids were part of its conformity assessment activities to make sure goods are produced to meet global best practices.
“The non-conforming producers have been guided on ways to get it right and the ones who still indulge in the nefarious act would have more issues with us. We are no longer working as regulators, but as business facilitators. Prosecution will be the last option, but we are working with them as partners for now and guiding them to getting it right is our major focus,” he said.
Bola Awojobi, executive director, KAM Industries Limited and the spokesman, Steel Group, commended SON for its tireless efforts at bringing sanity to the steel industry.
“This meeting is to synergise, synchronize and discuss ways to move the industry forward. We have been tasked to produce standard products that can be sold here in Nigeria and beyond. If we are able to produce quality product, it would sell itself, while also giving us a good image within the comity of nations,” he hoped.
Continuing, he said, “more importantly, the issue of collapsed buildings will be reduced drastically. Our members in the steel group are producing standard products, but there could be some lapses here and there, but I will say that we would cooperate with SON to ensure that our members produce quality products,” he assured.
He said that had listened to the Director General appreciated the efforts that they had made to sanitise the steel sector. “I want to assure you that we would continue to improve to make sure we have standard products in Nigeria,” he said.
CHUKA UROKO
