The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) have reiterated their commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s trading environment through improved regulation, enhanced port efficiency, and empowerment of trade associations.
The agencies made this known during the 2025 Annual General Meeting and All Markets Conference (AMC 25) of the Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association held in Lagos.
Represented at the event, the Director-General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, commended the leadership of Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association for sustaining a forum that promotes collaboration, innovation, and unity among market leaders and traders across the country.
Okeke, who was represented by Assistant Director, Head of Complaints of SON, Mr Solomon Joseph, said the association’s consistent engagement had contributed significantly to national commerce and enterprise development.
Okeke described trade associations such as Ndigboamaka as critical partners in economic growth, serving as the bridge between government policies and grassroots businesses.
According to him, in a nation where the informal sector employs over 40 million Nigerians, associations play a crucial role in linking traders and artisans to formal structures that promote productivity, inclusion, and national stability.
He stated that the Federal Government, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had placed strong emphasis on economic diversification, digital transformation, and enterprise development.
He noted that SON’s mandate aligns directly with this agenda by ensuring goods and services meet acceptable standards while supporting sustainable business practices.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Empowering Trade Associations for Revenue Generation and Modernisation”, Okeke stressed that standards were not obstacles to business but enablers of expansion and competitiveness.
He said adherence to quality standards enhances consumer trust, opens access to new markets, and builds the foundation for long-term business success.
Okeke highlighted key SON initiatives such as the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) for local manufacturers and the SON Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) for importers.
He explained these programmes helped safeguard genuine businesses and consumers from substandard products.
SON boss also announced the forthcoming Product Authentication and Tracking System (PATS), that allows buyers to verify products instantly, using mobile phones.
The SON DG revealed that the agency had fully digitalised its certification and verification processes to reduce bureaucracy and enhance the ease of doing business.
He added that SON was collaborating with the Nigeria Customs Service and other government agencies on trade facilitation initiatives such as the National Single Window Project to improve transparency and efficiency at Nigerian ports.
Okeke acknowledged the numerous challenges confronting traders, including counterfeit goods, multiple taxation, and infrastructure deficits.
He urged stakeholders to embrace partnership and compliance as collective tools to overcome these obstacles, stating that the prosperity of Nigeria’s markets depends on integrity, innovation, and adherence to standards.
In his goodwill remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr Ukeyima Akuta, presented a paper titled “The Role of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as Port Economic Regulator in Facilitating Import/Export and Empowering Trade Unions for Revenue Generation and Modernisation”.
Akuta, represented by the Assistant Director Stakeholders Service, Mr Femi Omonayin, said trade is the engine of economic growth and noted that the efficiency of Nigeria’s ports is essential for competitiveness in global commerce.
Akuta explained that the council, as the port economic regulator, plays a central role in promoting efficiency, transparency, and fair competition in port operations.
According to him, the council regulates tariffs and charges, promotes operational efficiency at terminals, and advocates policies that reduce bureaucracy and enhance automation across the maritime value chain.
The NSC representative stated that the council works closely with trade unions, including the Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association, through structured engagements, training, and conflict resolution platforms.
He said that the partnership ensured stability in port operations, prevent industrial disputes, and promote collaboration between labour, government, and service providers.
Akuta added that empowering trade unions and modernising port operations contribute to measurable national outcomes such as increased government revenue, attraction of foreign investment, job creation, and adoption of global best practices in logistics and port infrastructure.
The council, he maintained, is not only a referee in tariff regulation but also a catalyst for trade growth, actively driving initiatives that facilitate import and export operations while ensuring fair business practices within the maritime sector.
