FG committed to promoting industrial dev’t to bolster national growth — Minister

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Enoh, says Federal Government is committed to advancing industrial growth toward nation’s development and economic progress in the country.

Enoh said that the present administration had initiated programmes through the promotion of standard and quality of locally manufactured products so as to encourage patronage of Made-in-Nigeria goods for domestic use and exports.

The minister stated this when he inaugurated the newly constructed office complex of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Wednesday in Sokoto.

He said the journey of Nigeria’s economy towards industrialisation had faced significant challenges that included acute shortage of national energy, poor infrastructure, inconsistent government policies and over reliance on oil revenue among others.

” Over time, successive government have come with diverse policies towards diversification of the nation’s economy and attainment of industrialised economy without much success.

” The present administration of President Bola Tinubu through Renewed Hope Initiative designed good policies including diversification of economy strategies, encourage standard production of products.

” This office edifice signify the diversification of promoting standard products through quality enhancement that will compete with global standards,” he said.

Enoh added that the present administration approached the matter of industrialisation of the nation’s with utmost seriousness and committed efforts through deliberate policies that would hasten the process of economic diversification.

According to him, the inauguration of the facility in Sokoto would not only expand the activities of the organization from the state to all other neighbouring states and it will reduce traveling to Lagos, Enugu laboratory for analysis.

The minister urged SON to check substandard products and imbibe a standard assurance culture by making use of the agency’s services, stressing that the government through it would continue the clampdown by arresting and prosecuting offenders in the overall interest of the citizens.

Earlier, Gov. Ahmad Aliyu, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Idris Gobir, described the new office complex as a milestone for industrial growth and consumer protection in the state.

Aliyu said the new edifice symbolised national progress and reflected the state’s commitment to quality and standards.

He promised that the state government would continue to partner with SON on promoting quality and standard product to safeguard the well-being of citizens
“ This project speaks volumes about SON’s dedication to promoting standards and ensuring that Nigerian goods and services meet global expectations.

“ This proximity will strengthen collaboration between SON and the state government to ensure consumer safety and boost investor confidence,” he said.

The governor expressed optimism that the office would benefit farmers, traders, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers by bringing SON’s certification services closer to them.

The Director General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, said the new office complex and the laboratory would enhance the services of the organisation in certifying quality products for the use of the people.

“The inauguration of this office complex signifies the resolve by SON management to bequeath a functional substructure as part of the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) to every state of the Federation.

” This will help improve our services by bringing it closer to the people especially in the areas of conformity assessment and laboratory testing of products to relevant standards, ” he said.

Okeke warned fraudsters and those engaging in the production of substandard products that SON would not relent on its efforts to arrest, confiscate and prosecute any offender or group of offenders who violate the laws relating to standards of goods and services in Nigeria.

The Comptroller of the Nigerian Custom Service (NCS), Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, Mr Aliyu Idris, said the new office would facilitate standards.

According to him, it will also give value to innovation and ensure that local products meet international standards, enabling them to compete favourably anywhere in the world.