Lagos – The Standards Organisation Of Nigeria (SON) has said that once the Nigeria National Accreditation Service (NiNAS) becomes functional, more than 120 laboratories should be in operation before the end of 2016.
SON’s Acting Director-General, Mr Paul Angya, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
NAN reports that in 2013, the Federal Government, with the the technical support of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), laid the foundations of NiNAS.
NiNAS is expected to accredit existing standards and quality agencies and organisations in the country.
“It is still at the pre-birth stage, but I believe that before the end of this year, it will be up and running.
“SON has about two laboratories that are accredited, and by the time this National Accreditation Service is up and running, you should expect more than 120 labs in Nigeria before the end of the year.
“Because people have the money, and people have the competence; what they don’t have is the body to give that accreditation.
“And when about 100 labs are up and running, imagine the boost in our export strength.
“It means then that all the products that could not leave Nigeria because of certification will have access to accredited labs.
“And they will be exposed to the global market; so, the slump we are witnessing now will be a thing of the past, when our agro-allied products begin to go out.’’
He stated that Nigeria has products that can compete favourably in the international market with proper certification.
“The only reason our yam, our cocoa, out tomato, which does not need any additive, which is grown purely organically, which is so desirable to the world, cannot sell in London, is because we don’t have that room, that room they call the laboratory with an accreditation
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“And you can have that room; you can have that laboratory when you have an accreditation service.
“It is the accreditation service that will look at the laboratories and say, yes this laboratory has facilities, has personnel that are competent, has an environment that is good.
“So it is only the National Accreditation body that can do that, and what it does is accredit the laboratories.
“So now, SON, in collaboration with the private sector and other government institutions has established the National Accreditation Service.’’ (NAN)