The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has revealed plans to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the country by simplifying access to certification and standards, in line with global best practices.
According to the agency, its initiative at the forefront of this drive is the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme, designed to assist local manufacturers in maintaining quality and safety standards, a key requirement for gaining consumer trust and penetrating international markets.
Acting Regional Director for SON in Lagos, Theresa Ojomo, disclosed this during the annual Walk for Standards event held in Lagos to mark World Standards Day.
She stated SON’s role in facilitating the growth of small businesses through programmes tailored to their needs.
“We have brought it down to the very small micro-organisations, encouraging them that they can imbibe standards”, she said.
She noted that businesses operating with minimal infrastructure could ensure quality in their production processes with SON’s support.
Ojomo explained that SON had made the process of adhering to standards more affordable and less burdensome for SMEs.
“We have brought in schemes that are very low in the economy because they always complained that it’s costly to have standards and quality.
“SON conducts only one inspection per year for micro-enterprises to ease the compliance process. The government and SON are ensuring that as small as the unit is, you can imbibe standards”, she remarked.
The Head of Codex, Nutrition and Tobacco Monitoring at SON, Yunusa Mohammed, reiterated that the organisation was committed to ensuring that consumers get value for their money by enforcing quality and safety standards.
“The ultimate aim for developing standards is to ensure quality and safety. Without testing the product to the requirements of the product standard, there is no way you can give that assurance”, he said.
Mohammed noted that SON had invested in state-of-the-art laboratories across the country to further support SMEs by offering testing services that help small businesses certify their products for both local and international markets.

Active Marine Surveillance Coast Guard limited, a private security agency, has stated its preparedness to assist the police and other security agencies to check piracy along the nation’s waterways.
Director General of the Security outfit, Commander Godwin Amare, said this during the passing out parade of over 150 members of  the Coast Guard in Port Harcourt.
He said apart from checking piracy, Active Marine Surveillance Coast Guard limited also provides security at jetties across the state and check pollution along the waterways, as well as mount security surveillance across the country.
Amare, however, said his security outfit needs the support of the state and federal governments in the discharge of its functions..
He said with government support, the problem of insecurity will be reduced in the states.
Amare also stressed the need for the government to engage  the outfit in the provision of security in the state, adding that by doing so, government will also be creating employment opportunities for the people.
According to him, it’s men can also be engaged in the provision of security at strategic locations across the state.
He used the occasion to commend the Deputy Director General of the outfit, Captain Dain Elekima Joyfull, as well as  Captain Emberra Michael Niyikpen, and Pastor Anthony Afakwa, for their support.
Speaking, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Cp Mustafa Bala, who was represented at the occasion by SP Luka, urged the newly passed out officers of the Civilian joint taskforce and Active Marine Coast Guard limited to be professional in the conduct of their duties.
He also pledged to provide them with the necessary support.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Commandant of the Civilian Joint Taskforce, Commander Richard Akpobari, said his group is prepared to support the security agencies to curb criminalities in the state.
According to him, the situation aims to reduce the burden of providing security in the state.

By: John Bibor

Flight Operations on the Port Harcourt—Abuja route has significantly increased at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, as against what it used to be in recent past.
The Tide observed that this improvement in number of flights on the Abuja route became noticeable with the coming of the Nigerian Eagle, otherwise known as “NG Eagle” airline to Port Harcourt airport.
Before now, some airlines such as Air Peace, Dana, Aero Contractors, and the United Nigeria Airlines were the airlines that kept the Abuja route afloat, with Aero Contractors and United Nigeria having specific days in the week within which they fly the Abuja- Port Harcourt route.
Unfortunately, the suspension of operations of the Dana Airlines by the aviation regulatory agency, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), brought a new twist in the flights operations on the Abuja route, as other airlines resorted to cancellation of flights, rescheduling and irregular operations with its negative impact on the travelers, with many lamenting the development.
Such scenario gave room for arbitrary hike in the flight tickets in many instances on the Abuja route, as many passengers on the route had to book in advance to secure their seats, giving room for extortion by some fast airline staff who used the opportunity to make brisk business.
Recently, the scenario has changed, as other airlines: the Arik airline, Value Jets, and Ibom air, have stamped their feet, and are now plying the Abuja route, in addition to the few that were in operation.
This development, The Tide gathered,  has reflected on the prices of flight tickets positively, as prices for tickets has adequately reduced, particularly in the NG Eagle airline.
Reacting to this development while interacting with The Tide, one of the travel agents at the airport, Chima Wobisike, said the development was a good one.
“Abuja passengers have suffered so much because of lack of flights. Some of my clients sometimes had to go through Lagos to Abuja on emergencies, and that is additional cost.
“I couldn’t figure out how an airport like the Port Harcourt airport will be having issues on flight operations from and to Abuja, were many passengers are ready to travel”, Wobisike remarked.
He, however, expressed joy that a change has taken place with the coming of other airline to operate on the Abuja route, to create the desired competition, as it was some years back.

Corlins Walter