The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Apapa branch has charged manufacturers in the country to take issues of standards as priority during manufacturing activities in order to make made in Nigeria goods compete in the global market. The Chairman, MAN, Apapa branch, Mr. John Aluya, explained the role of standards in the nation's manufacturing sector could not be over-emphasised noting that standardisation was key in economic development and increasing greater patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products.

Aluya during the branch's business luncheon added that the quest for industrialisation and sustained development in the country and the attendant improvement in the quality of life of the populace has been and will continue to be the association's focal point for value addition to local, state and the national economy. He said as a result of this, there was an urgent need for the federal government to adopt a policy framework that would enhance development and encourage business enterprise. He however stated that for the manufacturing sector to key into programme of attaining the top 20 economies of the world by 2020, a lot needs to be done. According to him, apart from some obvious limitations hindering the growth of the sector of which lack of infrastructure accounts for 70 per cent, it is imperative that overbearing posture of some government agencies are clogs in the wheel of progress for its members. "Therefore we challenge the leadership of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and National Agency for Food, Drug and Administration Control (NAFDAC) to be the bull in the pack by distinguishing themselves through time line services, reduction of service cost, and collaborative development of Research and Development in industries," he said.

He stressed the challenge facing the current government was to arrest the continued decay of major infrastructural facilities especially in the power sector; provide adequate security by enhancing the operational capacities of the law enforcement agencies to deal with the rising wave of crimes and insecurity in the country.

Also speaking at the event, the Director General, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu represented by the Sectional Head, Consumer Complaint Unit, SON, Mrs. Mosun Samuel, said standardisation and quality played vital role in ensuring health, safety and protection of environment including the industrial sector adding that increased product acceptance was based on trust and confidence built on standardisation and quality of products.

She said standardisation was essential for all human activity providing added value; increasing competitiveness in the industry and facilitate trade and remove technical barriers to trade. She stressed the need for Nigeria to be proactive in standardisation and quality assurance activities to keep abreast with the current trend of doing business within and beyond borders.

The Deputy Director, NAFDAC, Mr. Adedeji Akinwunmi, representing the Director General, NAFDAC, Mr. Paul Orhii, said the Nigerian manufacturing sub-sector according to the bureau of statistics was responsible for about 10 per cent of total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually , noting that the sector in terms of employment generation accounted for about 12 per cent of the labour force in the formal sector of the nation's economy. He stressed that in line with the transformation agenda, NAFDAC ensured that it provided a strong regulatory framework, promotes industrial growth while supporting the growth of the private sector and ensuring good governance through efficient and effective use of public resources.

He stated the need for genuine manufacturers and importers of NAFDAC regulated products to register their products with the agency stating that NAFDAC streamlined the registration procedure by giving a time line of 90 working days without compromising on the quality in order to promote the development of the manufacturing sector