SON urges manufacturers to sustain product quality

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has urged manufacturers to uphold product quality standards to safeguard consumers, bolster faith in Made-in-Nigeria items, and bolster Nigeria's manufacturing industry competitiveness. Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, SON's Director-General and CEO, made this appeal at the 2026 National Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) Quality Award Ceremony in Lagos.

Okeke highlighted that the SON had marked 20 years of the MANCAP scheme, which began on January 1, 2006, to ensure locally manufactured goods met requisite Nigerian Industrial Standards. The programme's introduction aimed to foster fair competition, protect consumers' rights to quality products and value for money, and aid Nigeria's economic diversification.

Over the years, MANCAP has witnessed substantial growth, with the number of certified products rising from 1,930 in the first year to 17,866 in recent times, underscoring the increasing importance of product quality and compliance. Okeke described MANCAP as SON's flagship mandatory product certification scheme for locally manufactured goods, aimed at averting the production and sale of inferior or unsafe items.

He emphasized that MANCAP certification entails factory inspections, product sampling, laboratory testing, and compliance reviews, with certificates renewable every three years. The director-general encouraged manufacturers to uphold their certifications, regulators to enforce rules fairly and consistently, and consumers to demand quality and make informed choices.

SON has been reinforcing the scheme through stakeholder engagement, sensitization, enhanced laboratory infrastructure, and improved measurement capabilities at the National Metrology Institute. Additionally, SON has introduced a new MANCAP logo in March 2025 and expanded promotion of certified products via its website and Digital Standards Platform.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Chris Isokpunwu, echoed the call for sustained commitment to quality and conformity across the manufacturing sector, acknowledging the scheme's role in strengthening confidence in products and enhancing manufacturers' competitiveness.