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AfCFTA: Nigeria must produce what meets International standard- SON

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SON moves to checkmate cybercrimes with ISO 27001 ISMS certification

… As DG says ‘We winning war against fake, substandard goods”***

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Tuesday said that the country needed to produce products that meet international standards to enable her compete favourably on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

The Director-General (D-G) of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, said this at the SON’s Capacity Building Workshop for Journalists in Lagos with the theme: “Improved Synergy to Promote Standardisation”.

Salim urged journalists to always report issues as they were as their reportage would either make or mar the country.

He added that everyone should be vigilant so as not to patronise substandard goods because the impressions that would be formed from such would not be profitable for the country.

He said that collective efforts would ensure substandard goods were not in the market.

He added that they had met with traders in markets like Alaba, and Ladipo, and that the outcome of such meetings with some of the association was beginning to yield fruits.

Salim noted that the SON had made some changes in the past one year to ensure that things moved smoothly for the country.

Also read: SON impounds 400 bottles of substandard Mayonnaise in Enugu

“We’ve done enough enforcement, discussed how to stop all these things that are entering our country.  We are working assiduously both within, outside and underground, to improve activities of the organisation so that it can serve the country better.

“This is very important, because we have the new African free trade, where goods will be crossing borders without too many hindrances.

“So what that means for our country is, if our manufacturers are not producing standard goods, they will not cross over to the other countries, because other countries will set standards too and they will expect goods coming to their countries to be up to standard,” he said.

He noted that most countries would gladly stop products that were substandard from entering their countries so as to save their nationals from buying fake products and endangering their people.

“So it is our responsibility as the SON to make sure our goods in this country are up to standard. We must make sure that substandard goods in the markets decrease.

“Governments should make sure that there are consequences and sanctions against   any products or persons producing substandard products.

“We have to make sure that manufactured goods, building materials are up to standard because in case of collapsed buildings, hundreds of people lose their lives.

“So, as an organisation, we know the weight of our responsibility and the job of the journalist is to keep us on our toes to do the needful,” he said.

The SON D-G also pointed out that it was very important for the tradition of investigative journalism not to die, adding that such would keep journalists on their toes and discourage the cut-and-paste approach.

“No country survives a quiet media, no country survives basic media that indulge in cut-and-paste media,” he said.

Also, Mrs Chinyere Egwuonwu, Director, SON Standards Development, noted that the organisation had a three- year plan which started in 2020 to aid standard implementation.

She added that the strategy was meant to ensure the needs of stakeholders were met.

According to her, 658 standardisation projects were targeted to be developed and in 2020, a total of 274 standards were planned out of which 264 were achieved, making a 96 per cent achievement.

“The Nigeria National Standardisation Strategy approved by the Standard Council of Nigeria was instituted due to constant improvement in science, technology and innovation.

“It is demand driven, which comes from market needs and developed in line with international best practices.  It needs the active participation of key stakeholders, and the uptake of the resultant standards for it to work,” she said.

In the meantime, the Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr Farouk Salim, says the organisation’s increased level of seizures is assisting it win the war against fake and substandard goods.

Salim said this on Tuesday in Lagos on the sideline of the organisation’s Capacity Building Workshop for journalists.

The workshop was themed: ‘Improved Synergy To Promote Standardisation.”

Salim noted that feedback from market associations and stakeholders across different sectors showed a significant improvement in the quality of goods, especially steel and cables.

He noted that feedback on quality improvement in steel and cable products was gotten from contractors and dealers.

On issues of complaints arising from goods purchased online, Salim advised consumers with such challenges to contact SON, adding that monitoring goods online could be very difficult.

“We have offices all over the country, you can bring these goods and the receipts to us to clarify these issues so that we can go back to these online dealers to seek redress,” he said.

Salim said the workshop was to interact and discuss issues that affected the media and the standards body.

He restated SON’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the media, while urging journalists to also assist in its fight against fake and substandard goods.

Also, Mrs Chinyere Egwuonwu, Director, Standards Development, SON, said the Nigeria National Standardisation Strategy (NNSS) plan had identified 658 standardisation projects to be developed before the end of 2023.

Egwuonwu said the NNSS would support the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery Growth Plan and Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) to drive government’s diversification agenda.

 

Economy

YULETIDE Decorations: LASG To Divert Traffic At Ajose Adeogun

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YULETIDE Decorations,: LASG To Divert Traffic At Ajose Adeogun

The Lagos State Government will divert Traffic, away from a section of Ajose Adeogun Street in Victoria Island, for the mounting of end-of-the-year decoration, for a duration of three weekends starting from Saturday 19th October 2024.

The aforementioned exercise, according to Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi,  will be carried out in three phases with each phase focusing on different sections of the street. 

To this end, the following alternative routes have been mapped out for motorists during the cause of the mounting; 

 During the First Phase which will cover Jubril Martins to Chicken Republic – (Saturday, 19th and Sunday, 20th October 2024)

Traffic inward Eko-Hotel Roundabout will be diverted to the other half (existing section) of Ajose Adeogun Street by VCP Hotel to form contra-flow traffic and exit at Eko-Hotel Roundabout to continue journeys.

Alternatively, Traffic inward to Eko-Hotel Roundabout from VCP Hotel will be diverted through Jubril Martins into Muri Okunola to link Patience Coker and access Ajose Adeogun Street to connect destinations.

During the Second Phase which will cover Molade Okoya Thomas to Mounis Bashorun section – (Saturday, 26th and Sunday, 27th October 2024). 

Traffic inward Ajose Adeogun Street from Eko-Hotel Roundabout will be diverted to a right turn into Molade Okoya Thomas to link Younis Bashorun to access Ajose Adeogun Street to continue journeys. 

During the Third phase of the project spanning 10 meters inward Ajose Adeogun (Saturday, 2nd November, 2024).

Motorists from Adetokunbo Ademola Street will maintain a lane movement for about 10 metres into Ajose Adeogun Street to connect their destinations, while Motorists inward Eko-Hotel Roundabout on Ajose Adeogun Street will maintain a lane movement for about 10 metres into Eko-Hotel Roundabout.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi while imploring Motorists to note the ease of movement plan assured that the State’s Traffic Management Authority will be on ground to manage vehicular activities along the corridor to minimise inconveniences.

The Commissioner therefore advised Motorists to be patient, as the Partial closure is part of the traffic management plans for the commencement of End of Year Decoration of Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, by Zenith Bank PLC.

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Economy

NLC Kicks, Says Petrol Hike Will Further Deepen Poverty, Job Loss

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NLC kicks, Says Petrol Hike Will Further Deepen Poverty, Jobs Lost

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has kicked against the current petrol price hike, stressing that the latest increase in the pump price of petrol will further deepen poverty as production capacities dip.

The Congress added that the increase would lead to more job loss with multidimensional negative effects, and therefore, demanded its immediate reversal.

NLC’s position is contained in a statement signed by its President, Mr Joe Ajaero on Wednesday in Abuja, titled, “What next after increase in pump price?”.

The labour leader said the previous increases had not produced any good results, rather, people only got poorer.

He said the Congress was dismayed by the latest increase in the pump price of petrol without commensurate capacity of Nigerians or mitigatory measures.

“Even following the logic of market forces, we find it an aberration that a private company (NNPCL) is the one fixing prices and projecting itself as a hegemonic monopoly.

“We challenge the government to go to the drawing board and present us with a blueprint for inclusive economic growth and national development instead of this spasmodic ad hocism and palliative policy.

“It needs no stating the fact that the latest wave of increase has grossly altered the calculations of Nigerians once again at a time they were reluctantly coming to terms with their new realities,” he said.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had raised the pump price of petrol by 14.8 per cent to N1,030 per litre from N897 across its retail outlets in the FCT.

Earlier in September, the NNPCL had increased the price of the product from N615 to N897.

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Economy

LASG Signs Mou For Green Line Mass Transit

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LASG Signs Mou For Green Line Mass Transit

…Assures that rail transit will seriously improve commuting within the metropolis

The Lagos State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Green Line Rail Mass Transit Project which is to span the expanse of Lekki corridor within the state.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi highlighted this, in response to questions raised by the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Transportation, led by Hon. Temitope Adewale, the Chairman during a courtesy visit of the committee to the ministry.

The Transport Commissioner stated that the addition of the Green Line to the existing Blue Line which has transported over 2 million passengers since its inception and the Red Line which will convey 750,000 passengers daily at its kick-off, will significantly improve commuting within the state. He also said that the plan for the second phase of the Blue Line, Mile 2 to Okokomaiko is underway.

Mr. Osiyemi also disclosed that the Ministry was currently working on creating 2 Interchanges to ensure the interconnectivity of the modes especially in areas where all of the available modes exist (Road, Water and Rail), adding that the interconnectivity of the modes was deliberate to ensure that there is no lacuna in the implementations of these plans.

Speaking on the areas of concern raised about the Lekki-Epe Corridor and the impact of the refinery along the axis, the Commissioner elaborated on the modality of the E-call Up System.

He explained that 7 trailer parks are available to prevent trucks from loitering on the corridor as well as an RFID which will ensure compliance with the e-call-up system as it will expose any truck not scheduled to be at the port or parks.

He also revealed that plans are also underway to ensure containers are moved via water on barges in ten’s to further reduce the congestion on the corridor.

In affirmation, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olawale Musa explained that the number one hindrance to fully digitised enforcement is the lack of data.

He decried that many motorists especially commercial vehicles submit incorrect data to the Government due to the use of agents to procure vital vehicular and driver documentation hence the continued use of physical enforcement. 

He further stated that the Ministry has prioritized training of its enforcement and traffic management officers to ensure that they deliver on providing sanity on Lagos roads.

The Chairman House Committee on Transportation, Hon. Temitope Adewale applauded the Ministry for living up to its responsibility as the first on the THEMES+ Agenda, he enjoined the Ministry to provide a project status report to enable the House of Assembly to monitor and stay abreast of the plans of the ministry and as well support the projects in line with their functions as representatives of the people.

Expatiating on the development, the Deputy Director Public Affairs, Bolanle Ogunlola (Mrs.) noted the presence of other members, which included Hons. Afinni Olanrewaju, Slyvester Ogunkelu, Olootu Emmanuel and Kazeem. O, alongside other Officers from the Lagos State House of Assembly, as well as the Management of the Ministry of Transportation.

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