Business

Compliance to standards will make Nigerian products globally competitive – SON

Published

4 years ago

July 13, 2022

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has said locally produced goods must adhere strictly to standards to be competitive globally.

The Director General of SON, Malam Farouk Salim, stated this at the flagging off of a campaign tagged “Standardisation; Panacea for economic growth” in Enugu. (When?).

The SON boss said that adhering strictly to standardisation and quality assurance would make Nigerian products and services more acceptable at the international market.

Salim, represented by the SON Director South-East Operations, Mr Fred Akingbesote, said when all products and services conformed to standards, the country and her people would benefit tremendously from it.

He explained that there was standard for every product or service, adding that upholding standardisation even in service industry of hospitality, tourism and hotel would create international markets and patronage for such services.

The SON boss said standardisation would also lead to cost reduction, less effort on production, strengthen brands and make it convenient and easy for customers to recognise and pick quality products and services.

“If you see any product with SONCAP certification logo, rest assured that you have got a product with quality and satisfaction guaranteed.

“It provides a company with a competitive edge in the market. “Manufacturers and service providers need to ensure that their products and services meet the right specifications and deliver on their customers’ expectations.

“When a company assesses its products and services in accordance with relevant standards, this helps the company to adapt to the latest market trends regarding quality.

“And avoid the costs related to product returns, buyer complaints, and loss of goodwill in local, regional, and international markets,” the SON DG said.

Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the SON DG, Chief Duru Emeka, who doubles as coordinator of the sensitisation, said it was part of the agency efforts to take culture of standardisation to the grassroots.

“Once the people in rural areas imbibed standardisation as a way of life, the fight against influx of substandard products is almost won.

“We need collaborative efforts to tackle the menace,” he said.

Duru said that Nigerian products were produced in line with international best practices and enjoy global competitiveness in line with the organisation’s quality infrastructure strategy under the able leadership of Mallam Farouk Salim.

“This will reduce the rejection of some of our products at export market, increase industrialisation and wealth creation,” Duru said

Duru subsequently urged the participants to consider the sensitisation workshop as an opportunity to broaden their scope saying, Enugu is the first to benefit from this particular sensitisation series.

He charged stakeholders to remain committed and focused on ensuring standardisation at all times.

The stakeholders in the manufacturing, consumption, service and allied businesses commended SON for the workshop.

The stakeholders also urged the organisation to extend its services to the grassroots.

They were of the view that once the message of standardisation is achieved even at the local communities, it would in turn have a positive socio-economic effect on the country in general.

Permanent Secretary, Enugu State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Dr Godwin Anigbo, urged SON to extend its services to the grassroots by creating more awareness on standardisation of products and services.

“We need robust engagement with the people at the grassroots in the local areas to enable them know how they can attain and maintain internationally acceptable standard for any endeavour they engage in.

“Once majority of our local people start doing the right things and getting it right; our products and services will be the best internationally and the country will be better for it,” Anigbo said.

Mr Felix Odoh, Deputy Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Enugu State, said that SON could leverage the spread of NOA officials scattered in the 774 council areas to reach Nigerians even in their localities.

“This sensitisation and enlightenment should go beyond here and get more Nigerians, especially the people at the grassroots to know the standard for all they produce at their localities,” Odoh said.

A consumer, Mrs Vivian Offor, said that the sensitisation would make more meaning if those at the local areas, whose extract raw materials add value to them could achieve quality standardisation.

“Something as simple as palm oil should be produced to standard with good packing to ensure better value and more gain for the ordinary Nigerians that engage in such endeavours,” Offor said.

Managing Director of Enugu State Investment Development Authority, Dr Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, had earlier lauded SON for its consistence on its engagement of Nigerians to do the right thing and reposition the country’s economy.

“The issue of standardisation is important and it will be helpful to everybody and we must key into it.

”This is the only way to ensure we grow our economy and ensure conformity of our products and services,” Ogbu-Nwobodo said.

An Enugu-based manufacturer, Sir Eric Chime, noted that manufacturers and SON were both partners in progress, adding that SON had continued to ensure Nigerian products met international standard and acceptability.

“Apart from meeting international conformity and acceptability, standardisation also help the consumer not to be short-changed and quality guaranteed at all time.

“Standardisation also leads to better profit and international market opening for the manufactured products,” said Chime, who is the Chief Executive Officer of RICO Group of Companies manufacturers of petro-chemical products, said.

Mrs Ijeoma Ezeazor, representative of the President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ahmed Mansur and Chairman, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States of MAN, made a presentation on “Expanding Products Market Share via Standards”.

She urged the Federal Government to support in the fight against substandard products.

She noted that the menace was detrimental to the government efforts to industrial growth.

“ Our products can’t compete favorably with the low cheap products from some countries.

“We are in partnership with SON to address the problem,” she said.

Other SON officials also made presentations on MANCAP and Certification; SONCAP and Registration as well as Import and Export Requirements and “Driving Industrialisation with Quality Products”.

The sensitisation also witnessed question and answer sessions as well as goodwill messages from the Nigeria Immigration Service; National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps among others.

Auto

Jetour Set to Storm Abuja Show with Rugged Luxury T2

Published

23 hours ago

September 17, 2026

Trends Admin

Jetour Set to Storm Abuja Show with Rugged Luxury T2

Abuja is set for a taste of rugged luxury as Jetour Nigeria puts its adventure-ready T2 SUV in the spotlight at the Jetour Experience Abuja from September 22 to 24, 2026, giving motorists in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states an opportunity to test its blend of off-road capability, premium comfort and advanced technology.

The three-day showcase at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki, will feature test drives, live demonstrations and direct interaction with Jetour product specialists, offering prospective buyers a closer look at the T2 and other models in the automaker’s growing Nigerian line-up.

Positioned as a premium SUV combining off-road capability with comfort and advanced technology, the Jetour T2 is designed for motorists seeking a vehicle capable of handling both city driving and challenging terrain.

Jetour Nigeria is distributing the T2 and other models via its seven accredited dealers — Elizade Nigeria Limited, New Era AutoVehicle Services Limited, Germaine Auto Centre, Kojo Motors, Mandilas Autos, R.T. Briscoe Motors and Tab Autos Limited.

The T 2 SUV is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing 254 horsepower and 390 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and BorgWarner sixth-generation intelligent four-wheel-drive system.

It also features five driving modes — Eco, Sport, Mud, Rock and X Smart — designed to provide improved adaptability across different road and terrain conditions.

Measuring 4,758mm in length, 2,006mm in width and 1,880mm in height, the SUV offers 220mm ground clearance and a 70-litre fuel tank, giving it the capability for extended journeys and off-road adventures.

Inside the cabin, the T2 combines rugged styling with modern comfort, featuring ergonomic seating and a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and intelligent voice control.

Its safety and driver-assistance features include a 360-degree panoramic camera, rear parking sensors, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Detection, Anti-lock Braking System and Emergency Brake Assist.

The SUV also comes with off-road crawl control as well as push-button and remote-start functions.

The Abuja experience follows Jetour Nigeria’s recent showcase in Lagos as the automaker continues to expand its presence and customer reach across the country.

With its combination of performance, technology, safety and luxury, the Jetour T2 is expected to attract motorists seeking an SUV capable of combining everyday urban mobility with adventure and off-road driving.

Business

NCAA Moves Against Airlines Over Rising Flight Delays

Published

1 day ago

September 17, 2026

Hamdalat Bisiriyu

NCAA Moves Against Airlines Over Rising Flight Delays

Thousands of Nigerian air passengers faced delays in August as domestic airlines struggled to keep to their scheduled flight times.

Now, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says it is taking regulatory steps that could lead to sanctions against airlines responsible for persistent delays.

The regulator’s August data showed that 4,765 of 7,961 scheduled domestic flights were delayed. In other words, nearly 60 per cent of the flights did not leave as scheduled.

Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines recorded some of the highest delay rates, with 71 per cent and 76 per cent of their flights respectively affected.

NCAA Warns Airlines

NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said that the regulator had already engaged some of the airlines involved.

According to him, the NCAA met with Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines and Max Air and issued stern warnings over their operations.

The authority is now weighing further regulatory measures as the problem continues to affect passengers.

Achimugu also urged travellers to consider other airlines when repeated delays make a particular carrier unreliable.

“When one airline is continuously misbehaving, buy tickets on another airline and make your flight” he said.

Passenger Rights Put Enforcement Under Spotlight

However, aviation consultant Capt. John Ojikutu believes the recurring problem exposes a wider weakness in the sector.

Ojikutu said Nigeria has regulations intended to protect air travellers, but questioned how consistently those rules are enforced.

“The regulation is there to protect the customer. What is the enforcement?” he said.

He noted that passengers can report violations to the appropriate authorities. But, in his view, regulators must follow up on those complaints with meaningful action.

The aviation expert also recalled experiencing severe delays himself.

He said he once travelled to Abuja and passengers had to board an aircraft three times before another plane was brought in to complete the journey.

The disruption, he said, left him returning to Lagos considerably later than expected.

Are Airlines Planning Their Routes Properly?

Ojikutu also linked the industry’s problems to the way some airlines plan their operations.

He questioned the number of carriers competing on the Lagos-Abuja route, particularly when several airlines operate multiple flights each day.

His argument is that airlines should first establish the level of passenger demand before selecting routes, aircraft sizes and flight frequencies.

According to him, deploying aircraft capable of carrying more than 100 passengers without sufficient demand can put additional financial pressure on an airline.

He therefore advised carriers to consider routes with enough passengers but less competition.

Smaller Aircraft Could Serve Regional Routes

Ojikutu said the industry could also learn from the operational model used by the former Nigerian Airways.

He recalled that the airline used larger aircraft on major routes while smaller planes connected regional destinations to major airports.

He suggested that modern carriers could adopt a similar approach by connecting cities such as Sokoto, Kaduna, Jos and Minna to larger aviation hubs.

Rather than having every airline compete directly on major routes, he said carriers could develop regional networks that feed passengers into bigger airports.

He also called for more airlines to establish bases outside Lagos.

According to him, encouraging operations in other parts of the country could reduce the heavy concentration of airlines in Lagos and create stronger regional connections.

Concern Over Airline Survival

Ojikutu further questioned the short lifespan of many Nigerian airlines.

He attributed part of the problem to weak business planning and argued that airlines should present credible, sustainable plans before receiving regulatory approval to operate.

The latest development therefore puts both airlines and the aviation regulator under scrutiny, as passengers continue to deal with delays despite existing rules designed to protect them.

NCAA Moves Against Airlines Over Rising Flight Delays

Business

Fuel Prices Climb to ₦1,500 per Litre Across Nigeria, Sparking Calls for Urgent Action

Published

1 day ago

September 17, 2026

Hamdalat Bisiriyu

Fuel Prices Climb to ₦1,500 per Litre Across Nigeria, Sparking Calls for Urgent Action

Workers’ unions and fuel sellers appeal to the government to protect families from soaring transportation and food costs.

Fuel stations across Nigeria have raised the price of petrol to as high as ₦1,500 per litre, creating fresh financial strain for working people, small business operators, and families. Across cities such as Kano, Maiduguri, Damaturu, and Sokoto, drivers and commercial riders now pay higher rates at the pump, while stations in central and southern communities also report steady increases.

Because transportation costs directly influence the price of everyday essentials, bus drivers and tricycle operators have raised passenger fares to cover their fuel bills. As a result, parents and commuters face steeper daily travel expenses and rising grocery bills.