The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says it is seeking closer collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in the fight against the importation of substandard products in the country.
The Director-General of the SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, made this known in a press statement on Friday in Lagos.
“The robust 11-year cooperation between the SON and the Nigeria Customs Service have yielded many fruits over the last decade,’’ Salim said,
The SON Director-General stated this when he led his management team for a visit to the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd.).
He applauded the strategic role played by the Nigeria Customs Service in the fight against the importation of substandard products, while acknowledging the historical support given to his organisation.
He requested for more strategic engagements in the light of their recent return to the ports.
Responding, Ali agreed that the synergy between critical government agencies at the ports would greatly enhance efficiency.
“This will do a lot of good in the protection of the nation as well as its citizens,’’ he said.
The CGC stressed the need for SON to upgrade its information technology infrastructure to enable a smooth interface with the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) II platform of the NCS.
Ali promised to do all in his power to make this a reality while also requesting customs officers to be adequately trained in ISO certifications.
The meeting supported the readiness and willingness of the NCS to discharge its statutory responsibilities of protecting the nation’s economy through trade facilitation, revenue generation and anti-smuggling activities.
“It will provide the needed support in safeguarding the nation from the importation of substandard goods through collaboration with SON as the designated authority’’.
