By Lucy Ogalue
The Federal Government has called for stronger measurement standards and quality infrastructure to support industrial growth, consumer protection and global competitiveness.
The Director-General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, made the call at an event organised to commemorate the 2026 World Metrology Day on Wednesday in Abuja.
Okeke said accurate measurement remained critical to industrial production, international trade, healthcare delivery, environmental sustainability and economic development.
He explained that metrology, the science of measurement, played a key role in ensuring fairness, precision and confidence in products and services across sectors.
According to him, effective policymaking and industrial development depends on reliable data, verifiable standards and accurate measurements.
“In this rapidly evolving world, governments, industries and consumers rely on trusted measurement systems to make informed decisions, protect public interest and support national development.
“Without accurate measurements, industries cannot guarantee quality, consumers cannot trust products and businesses cannot compete effectively in the global market,” he said.
The SON boss said the organisation had continued to strengthen Nigeria’s national measurement system through investments in laboratories, calibration services and quality assurance infrastructure.
He said the agency had expanded its operations across the country to improve access to testing and calibration services for industries and businesses.
Okeke said that Nigeria’s measurement system must align with international standards to enable local products gain wider acceptance in global markets.
He added that SON was collaborating with international metrology institutions and development partners to improve technical capacity and enhance service delivery.
According to him, accurate measurements are essential in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, energy and digital technology.
He explained that inaccurate measurements could lead to unfair trade practices, reduced consumer confidence and poor product quality.
The director-general urged industries and businesses to invest more in proper calibration, quality control systems and conformity assessment processes.
He said such investments would improve productivity, reduce waste and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian products locally and internationally.
Okeke also called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, manufacturers, laboratories, academia and development partners to deepen awareness on metrology and quality assurance.
He reaffirmed SON’s commitment to promoting accurate measurements, evidence-based regulation and international best practices to support Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda.
Representing the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Adeyemi Folorunso said metrology was important to manufacturers because product quality determined market acceptance and competitiveness.
Folorunso commended SON for maintaining a balance between regulation and collaboration with industries.
According to him, accurate measurements and standards would help Nigerian manufacturers compete effectively in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market.
“We are grateful that SON remains a regulatory agency that also works with industries without compromising standards,” he said.
Similarly, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) said accurate measurement was critical to weather forecasting and climate monitoring.
The NiMet Director-General, Prof. Charles Anosike, represented by Mr Usman Abdulrahman, said the agency relied on precise measurements of temperature, pressure, wind speed and direction to generate reliable weather products.
He said NiMet’s aeronautical meteorological services had been certified to ISO 9001:2015 standards to ensure quality service delivery.
Abdulrahman also sought stronger collaboration with SON in establishing calibration laboratories and improving measurement systems in Nigeria.
Representing calibration service providers, Mr Johnson Friday of Solid Genon Services International Ltd., Lagos, said many industries still lacked adequate understanding of the importance of calibration and traceability.
Friday said that calibration was particularly important in healthcare, food processing, oil and gas, and manufacturing industries where safety and product quality were critical.
He, however, identified inadequate measurement standards and limited calibration infrastructure as major challenges facing the sector.
“We need more primary standards in Nigeria so that industries will not continue depending on foreign facilities for calibration services,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Metrology Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness on the importance of measurement science in everyday life, industry and economic development. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi
