The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has been formally approved as a member of the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) Technical Committee, marking a significant milestone for the agency's role in certifying Nigerian goods for overseas markets. In a statement signed by its management, SON described the development as a major boost to its mandate of ensuring the quality, safety and conformity of products destined for export.
According to the statement, SON's inclusion in the committee would strengthen the country's export conformity assessment framework within its broader trade architecture. The move is also expected to facilitate the integration of the SON Export Certificate Programme (SONEXCAP) into the National Single Window system and improve coordination among various agencies involved in export supervision.
The agency noted that the milestone goes beyond mere institutional recognition, stating that the development would help make Nigerian products more competitive in international markets, build greater confidence in made- in-Nigeria goods, and advance the country's non-oil sector.
The Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme was established under the Pre-shipment Inspection of Exports Act of 1996. Under the scheme, goods leaving Nigeria are inspected before shipment by government-appointed agents. The scope of the scheme was later expanded in 2007 to cover additional product categories.