The Organised Private Sector (OPS) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) have resolved to work together to make Nigerian products meet domestic, regional and international standards. The resolution was reached during a meeting on ‘Quality Infrastructure’ in Lagos organised by UNIDO.
UNIDO Representative, Dr. Patrick Komawa, said that the private sector has recognised the problems and has shown willingness to work with UNIDO, EU and the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, so as to increase the competitiveness of locally made products in the international market place.
Komawa said that they have agreed to use five mechanisms which are: Quality Policy, establishment of National Accreditation Body and National Metrology Institute for products certification which does not exist at the moment.
He said that the other mechanisms are to build the capacity of the Consumer Protection Council so that it can create awareness for the consumer to ask for quality products.
“It is one thing to produce quality product but if the consumers themselves do not know the difference between high quality and low quality products they will not demand for it.
“The consultation with the OPS within the national quality infrastructure project is an EU funded project but implemented by UNIDO with the support of the FMITI. The project has the objective of improving on the quality of products made in Nigeria so that they can be sold internally and in international market.
“The time frame for this project is four years and we have already started, we are now half a year into the programme and a lot of consultations have been taking place both within the public and private sector,
“You cannot improve on your GDP if we do not produce products in Nigeria and sell them in the international market. We also will not provide the needed job in this country if we are not able to manufacture products here and trade them in the international or regional market.
“But for us to be able to trade we need to at least meet basic quality requirement, most of the products that are made in this country are rejected because they do not meet certain basic quality requirement,” he said.
Also, Executive Director, Business Development, Bank of Industry, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, added,“The markets are used to standards and there is no way you can export in particular, if you do not adhere to international standards or international best practice.
