The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says full implementation of the online security screening system of its Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) to forestall the forgery of SONCAP certificates has started.

Our correspondent reports that some people were caught last June, falsifying the SONCAP certificates last year, facilitating the entry of some unwholesome goods into the country.

The Director General of SON, Dr John Akanya, told newsmen that full implementation of the SONCAP online security screening system would reduce human interaction with stakeholders to the barest minimum.

“The SONCAP certificates are supposed to be issued here to enable the importer obtain a letter of credit for importation and it is in the process that the forgery takes place.

He said that already some stakeholders had gained access to the online system, adding that more stakeholders would be linked to allow for more transparency in the process.

He said the stakeholders to be linked to the system for better monitoring and verification of the SONCAP certificate include banks, importers, exporters, SONCAP managers at ports, security agencies, Customs, among others.

“This system will also make data gathering to be easier for planning purposes and as the process is on going every step of the way can be checked and verified,” he said.

Akanya said that this year SON would improve strategies for creation of awareness on standardisation and quality assurance, particularly on the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) for locally manufactured goods.

“Most local manufacturers do not know much about the MANCAP and how they can obtain the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) mark on their products.

“We will create a lot of awareness because if the locally manufactured goods are of good quality the tendency to import fake products will be reduced,” he said.

He said that SON would also strengthen its testing capacity through upgrading of equipment in its existing laboratories such as food chemistry, microbiology, Vitamin A, electrical/electronic screening and calibration.

Others are paint and allied products, civil and mechanical testing as well as textile/leather laboratories spread across the country.

“This year, we will also consolidate our spread to 30 states of the federation though improved human and material capacity development.

“And to strengthen the recently created regional offices for more effective supe’rvision of state offices,” he said.

Akanya said that SON would also embark on massive standards elaboration though adoption, adaptation, review and creation of new standards.

He said there would also be increased quality assurance activities through regular factory visits, market survey, surveillance activities at ports and land borders as well as standards enforcement nationwide.