Lagos — An appeal has gone to the Federal Government to fast-track its efforts at putting in place appropriate infrastructure such as good road network, stable and reliable energy to relieve the problems manufacturers are currently going through in the country.

Managing Director, NN FEMS Industries, makers of Apple and Ozone Cosmetics, Mr. Emma Nwakanma, made the appeal in Lagos, weekend, while speaking at the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Award Winners Dinner held in Lagos.

Nwakanma,whose company was awarded the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS)/ Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) certification at the occasion, said high cost of providing alternative energy and the impact of bad roads are taking tolls on the overhead of most manufacturers in Nigeria.

According to him, the amount of money being spent on diesel to power their plants in the absence of reliable electricity supplies is so unimaginable just as the impact of bad roads on distribution vehicles is a pain in the neck to manufacturers.

He said made-in-Nigeria products can stand the test of time and can compete favourably at the international market just as he commended SON for its efforts at ensuring standards in the country.

On the NIS/MANCAP certification given to his firm, Nwakanma said it was a confirmation of the adherence of the company to ensuring the production of quality products. "Though we are just coming in as a new entrant to SON scheme, our certification and recognition is a confirmation of our belief in producing quality products," he said." This is something we should have done since but all along, we had paid much attention to satisfying NAFDAC requirements without taking SON into consideration, though everybody knows that we have good products."

He described the award as "the blessing of God" as he attributed the success to the "hardwork" of his staff and management.

The award ceremony was the climax of the Nigerian Quality Fair 2009 which started with a Walk for Standards on Thursday and an exhibition on Friday. More than162 companies were given various awards for consistently producing quality standard products at the occasion.