Nigeria, Egypt Sign MoU on Products Standardisation

 

Dr Joseph Odumodu, Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Lagos after he led Nigerian delegation to Cairo where he signed the MoU.

He said that SON represented Nigeria at the event, while Egypt was represented by two key government agencies, the General Organisation for Export and Import Control (GOEIC), and Egyptian Organisation for Standardisation and Quality (EOS).

The SON chief said that this was part of the organisation’s efforts to curb importation of substandard products into the country.

He said, “The MoU seeks the harmonisation of standards issued by the parties as a way of easing trade and checkmating unwholesome products. ”

Odumodu said that both countries had agreed to harmonise quality standards in accordance with the international and regional specifications in a bid to remove technical barriers to trade.

The director-general said that with the MoU, the two countries would also exchange experts, training, testing as well as standardisation and conformity assessment activities.

He said, “This is coming at the time the SON is working doggedly to stem the incidence of substandard products in the country.

“The signing of the MoU would help the agency to pursue and achieve its targets.

 “This is because Egypt is considered a major gateway to the Arab world and enjoys tremendous advantage in the areas of population and boisterous economy. ”

 According to him, under the MoU each party is expected to recognise conformity assessment certificates issued by the other party, alongside the exchange of information vital to the jobs of products standardisation.

 Odumodu said that the success of MoU would be measured in terms of the trade volume that would be recorded between both countries.

The director-general said that this should be more than double in the next three to five years.

According to him, following the agreement, Nigerian stands to benefit in the areas of training, capacity building and infrastructural development.

“We are just beginning to set up our metrology laboratory; So, what we see as an opportunity today is that we can actually send our people to Egypt and gain some experience in metrology.

 “Even in the basic test for tyres, bulbs, reinforcement bars, we now want to partner in such a way that will enable us to remain consistent with the relevant international standard,” he said.

 Odumodu also said that the agency decided to collaborate with African countries because its shares the same background and faces similar challenges with them.

“And, I believe it is important to share ideas with them on how they have coped with some of the challenges they have had within their environments.

 

“Also, looking at the environment in Egypt compared with Nigeria, we believe that an Egyptian experience will help us to learn few things,” he said.