Nigeria Fights Substandard Goods with Stronger Standards

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening standardisation, quality assurance, and metrology as part of its efforts to drive industrial growth, protect consumers, and improve the competitiveness of Nigerian products in global markets.

The government made the commitment during the 2026 World Metrology Day celebration organised by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria in Abuja.

A statement issued by the agency on Thursday said the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, emphasised standardisation and accurate measurement systems as critical tools for economic development, industrial productivity, and consumer confidence.

Represented by the ministry’s Director of the North-West Zonal Office, Labaran Mohammed, the minister said the Federal Government had intensified efforts to tackle substandard products through stronger regulation, improved testing facilities and digitalisation of processes.

She said, “Standardisation and metrology are powerful tools for improving productivity, reducing waste and enhancing the competitiveness of Nigerian products.

“The federal government remains committed to addressing the challenge of substandard products through improved quality regulation and enforcement mechanisms. We have strengthened the operations of SON through the establishment of additional offices, improved testing facilities and the digitalisation of processes.”

Oduwole added that the National Metrology Institute and regional laboratories located in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt had continued to support calibration, testing and quality assurance services across the country.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, said reliable measurement systems were essential for good governance, industrialisation and sustainable development.

Represented by the ministry’s Director of Weights and Measures, Mr Salim Mohammed, Enoh noted that accurate measurements formed the foundation for credible data, evidence-based policymaking and public trust in institutions.

“Where measurement systems are strong, governance becomes more transparent, accountable and result-oriented.

“In sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, energy, trade and environmental management, reliable measurements are essential for safety, quality and economic growth,” he said.

He urged stakeholders across the public and private sectors to collaborate with SON in promoting standardisation, quality assurance and accurate measurements to safeguard consumers and support economic growth.

In his remarks, the Director-General of SON, Ifeanyi Okeke, said metrology, the science of measurement, remained fundamental to industrial production, healthcare delivery, environmental sustainability and international trade.

According to him, effective policymaking and industrial development can only thrive on reliable data, verifiable standards and accurate measurements.

“In this rapidly evolving world, governments, industries and consumers rely on trusted measurement systems to make informed decisions, protect public interest and support national development,” Okeke said.

“Without accurate measurements, industries cannot guarantee quality, consumers cannot trust products and businesses cannot compete effectively in the global market.”

The SON boss said the organisation had continued to strengthen Nigeria’s national measurement system through investments in laboratories, calibration services and quality assurance infrastructure.

He disclosed that the agency had expanded its operations across the country to improve access to testing and calibration services for industries and businesses.

Okeke stressed that Nigeria’s measurement system must align with international standards to enable locally manufactured products to gain wider acceptance in international markets.

He added that SON was collaborating with international metrology institutions and development partners to improve technical capacity and service delivery.

According to him, inaccurate measurements could result in unfair trade practices, poor product quality and declining consumer confidence.

He said, “Accurate measurements are essential in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, energy and digital technology.

“We must continue to invest in proper calibration systems, quality control processes and conformity assessment mechanisms to improve productivity, reduce waste and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian products.”

The Chairman of the Standards Council of SON, Yahuza Inuwa, said the council would continue to support policies and initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s quality infrastructure and industrial development.

Represented by a council member, Mr Adeyemi Adebayo, Inuwa said the theme of this year’s celebration, “Metrology: Building Trust in Policymaking,” highlighted the importance of accurate measurements in governance and economic planning.

“Policies are only as reliable as the data and measurements upon which they are based,” he said.

“Building globally competitive industries requires more than production capacity. It requires consistency, precision, traceability and compliance with internationally accepted standards.”

He added that the council would continue to support investments in laboratory development, technical infrastructure and human capacity building to strengthen Nigeria’s quality ecosystem.

Also speaking, a representative of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Jerry Ainoko, described metrology as critical to transparency, safety and accountability in the petroleum industry.

According to him, accurate measurements were indispensable in custody transfer, product quality assurance, environmental monitoring and revenue accountability within the oil and gas sector.

“This year’s theme, ‘Metrology: Building Trust in Policymaking’, is both relevant and significant because sound policies can only be effective when they are built on accurate measurements, credible data and internationally accepted standards,” Ainoko said.

Representing the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mr Adeyemi Folorunso said product quality remained central to market acceptance and industrial competitiveness.

He noted that accurate measurements and standards would help Nigerian manufacturers compete effectively under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.

“We are grateful that SON remains a regulatory agency that also works with industries without compromising standards,” he said.

Similarly, the Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Prof. Charles Anosike, represented by Mr Usman Abdulrahman, said accurate measurements were vital to weather forecasting and climate monitoring.

He explained that the agency relied on precise measurements of temperature, pressure, wind speed and direction to generate reliable weather products and services.

Anosike added that NiMet’s aeronautical meteorological services had been certified to ISO 9001:2015 standards to ensure quality service delivery.

Meanwhile, calibration service providers raised concerns over inadequate measurement standards and limited calibration infrastructure in the country.

Speaking on behalf of calibration service providers, Mr Johnson Friday of Solid Genon Services International Ltd., Lagos, said many industries still lacked adequate understanding of calibration and traceability.

He said calibration remained crucial in sectors such as healthcare, food processing, manufacturing and oil and gas where safety and product quality were critical.

“We need more primary standards in Nigeria so that industries will not continue depending on foreign facilities for calibration services,” Friday stated.

World Metrology Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness about the importance of measurement science in industry, governance, trade and everyday life.

The event comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to improve local manufacturing, strengthen quality infrastructure and position domestic products for greater acceptance in regional and international markets amid the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.