NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Wike to upgrade IBB Golf Club to international standard 
Sports

Wike to upgrade IBB Golf Club to international standard 

102 total views today

By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the IBB International Golf and Country Club will be renovated and upgraded to international standard.

Wike disclosed this when he visited the club in Abuja on  Saturday, to assess the facilities.

He said that the renovation would begin with the Club House, where golfers wine, dine and unwind stress, under emergency intervention.

The minister added that the other sections of the club would be renovated and upgraded in phases.

He said that the renovation would be handled by Julius Berger construction company, which built the facilities in 1991.

He said that the club would remained closed until the renovation was concluded, in order to prevent it from degenerating.

“It is better we put the place in order quickly, so that when people come in, they will have where they can relax, have their drinks and rest.

According to him, making the club a tourist centre will attract investments.

“However, I want to advise the Board of Trustees (BOT) to initiate some innovative ideas for revenue generation to maintain the club instead of depending wholly on the government,” he said.

The minister explained that the BoT and the Interim Management Committee (IMC) were constituted to manage the club as government property.

He said that the step became necessary because government is not a good manager of facilities.

He urged the BoT and the IMC members to work as a team towards uplifting the standard of the club to international standard.

“That’s why we will not allow anybody to take what belongs to us. We will not allow that.

“Any move to sabotage what we are doing will not be tolerated,” he said.

Earlier, the BoT Chairperson, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, appealed to Wike to renovate the club and upgrade its standard to be at par with the rehabilitated Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.

Dongban-Mensem, who is the President of the Court of Appeal, recalled that the club was built by the Federal Government and opened to the public in 1991.

She added that the club, which began with 29 members, has, at the moment, 5,000 members using same facilities.

She pointed out that the facilities at the club has worn-out due to excessive use over the years.

According to her, if upgraded, the  facility will become a tourist attraction site and in the long run, boost the economy of the country. (NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

SON, IEC commits to partnership on global electrical standards in Nigeria
Economy/Business

SON, IEC commits to partnership on global electrical standards in Nigeria

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By Lucy Ogalue

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration on electrical and electronic standardisation in Nigeria.

The Director-General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, said this at a Stakeholders Forum organised by SON in collaboration with IEC and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja.

The Forum was organised as part of the 2025 African tour and official visit of the Secretary-General and Chief Executive of the IEC, Mr Philippe Metzger, to Nigeria.

Okeke, described the visit as historic and a major boost for Nigeria’s standardisation efforts in the electrical and electronic sector.

“Today is a memorable day for us in the standardisation fraternity. We are honoured to host the IEC secretary-general, which signifies Nigeria’s growing influence and commitment to international standards,” Okeke said.

He said that Nigeria became an affiliate member of the IEC in 2006 and attained full membership in 2017, adding that the country, through SON, now mirrored 23 IEC technical committees locally.

According to him, Nigeria’s involvement in IEC activities has led to the adoption and nationalisation of international standards, with a direct impact on local production quality.

“One of our major achievements is the improvement in the quality of Nigerian electrical cables, which are now globally competitive,” Okeke stated.

The SON D-G urged Nigerian manufacturers to leverage the IEC Conformity Assessment Schemes to gain international certification for their products, boost exports, and reduce rejections in global markets.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NERC, Mr Sanusi Garba, also welcomed the IEC team, stating that the visit was timely, given the ongoing power sector reforms following the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023.

Garba said that with states now empowered to regulate electricity within their jurisdictions, there was an urgent need for alignment and adherence to robust national and international standards.

“Standards are essential for safety, efficiency, and reliability in the electricity market. We must ensure operators comply with them to avoid unnecessary accidents or system failures,” he said.

Also speaking, the IEC secretary-general urged Nigeria to fully embrace international standards in the fields of clean energy, digital technologies, and smart grids.

According to Metzger, this will help to boost the country’s integration into global supply chains and accelerate industrial innovation.

He emphasised the IEC’s commitment to safety, efficiency, and sustainability through cutting-edge technologies such as IoT, artificial intelligence, digital twins, and smart energy systems.

According to Metzger, these technologies are tools to enhance productivity and innovation, not mere trends.

He reiterated the importance of standards in safeguarding quality and preventing unsafe products from entering the Nigerian market.

He further stressed the role of IEC in enabling smart grids that manage multi-way power flows and integrate renewable energy effectively.

The secretary-general also underscored IEC’s work on emerging energy solutions, including certification for low carbon hydrogen and robust cybersecurity standards tailored for industrial environments, critical to Nigeria’s growing energy sector.

On sustainability, Metzger reiterated recent IEC initiatives such as carbon footprint verification and circular economy services, aimed at supporting Nigeria’s ambitions for environmentally responsible industrial growth.

He called for increased participation of young Nigerian engineers and experts in IEC’s programmes, noting the essential role of digital natives in shaping the future of standards and innovation.

“Nigeria has incredible know-how and talent. Your young professionals must be empowered to inject new ideas into global standards,” he said.

Metzger expressed optimism about the ongoing partnership with Nigeria and encouraged stakeholders to deepen collaboration through the national committee to harness the full potential of clean energy and digital transformation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the forum include academia, manufacturing sector, regulators, and consumer groups.

The aim of the forum was to enable the stakeholders engage with the IEC delegation and discuss ways to further deepen Nigeria’s role in global standardisation efforts.(NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

Compliance with tyre standards will enhance global trade – SON
Economy/Business

Compliance with tyre standards will enhance global trade – SON

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By Lucy Ogalue

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says compliance with tyre standards will ensure road safety and position Nigerian businesses for global trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Director-General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, said this at a sensitisation programme for tyre dealers at the Apo Mechanic Village on Thursday in Abuja.

Okeke, represented by the Director, North Central, Dr Marline Waziri, also known as “Mama Africa,” emphasised that substandard tyres posed serious risks to lives and the economy.

According to him, AfCFTA presents an opportunity for Nigerian businesses to access a larger market but failure to comply with standards can leave local products in the country uncompetitive.

“This meeting is of international interest. With AfCFTA, we are working towards a single market in Africa.

“If we continue selling substandard tyres while other countries maintain high-quality standards, our products will be pushed out of the market,” he said.

He noted that more than 50 African countries had ratified the AfCFTA agreement, making it imperative for Nigerian businesses to align with international best practices.

“As a regulatory body for standardisation, inspection and certification, SON is taking this initiative seriously.

“There is a campaign going on now by SON and what we are saying is that you should ‘arrive alive’. And how do you arrive alive? It is only when you go for standard tyres.

“Tyre retailers must ensure they sell only quality products. Enough of substandard tyres,” he said.

The Chairman of the Abuja Automobile Tyre Dealers Association, Mr Samuel Nwangwu, welcomed the initiative and commended SON for engaging with stakeholders.

“I appreciate the Director-General of SON and his representative, our Mama Africa, for coming to enlighten us on this important issue. We are law-abiding and ready to learn,” Nwangwu said.

Representing the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Corps Commander Kunle Oguntoyinbo, stressed that improper tyre usage and storage are major causes of road crashes.

“If tyres are not properly stored, even if they have not expired, they can fail. Tyre bursts often lead to severe accidents, which is why enforcement and compliance are necessary,” he said.

He urged tyre dealers to collaborate with regulators and enforcement agencies to improve road safety.

SON’s FCT Coordinator, Mr Gamagira Mohammed, also highlighted the dangers posed by substandard tyres, describing them as life-threatening.

“The DG and his management team are deeply concerned about the influx of substandard tyres. We are here to educate, not to carry out enforcement actions.

“SON encourages businesses to do the right thing to protect lives,” Mohammed said.

The event ended with a commitment from SON and the tyre dealers to continue sensitisation programmes and establish a committee for continuous engagement on quality assurance. (NAN)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Water ministry, SON partner to improve irrigation water quality
Agriculture

Water ministry, SON partner to improve irrigation water quality

580 total views today

By Tosin Kolade

The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has partnered with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to enhance the quality of irrigation water in the country.

This was the focus of the Technical Committee on Water Quality meeting for the development of the Nigerian Standard for Irrigation Water Quality in Abuja.

The collaboration aims to develop and implement robust irrigation water quality standards that align with global best practices.

Mrs Oyeronke Oluniyi, Director of Irrigation and Drainage at the ministry, described the initiative as crucial for enhancing agricultural productivity, ensuring food security, and advancing Nigeria’s socio-economic development.

She added that the partnership aimed to improve water quality, support farmers, and safeguard ecosystems.

“The ministry has been working to raise awareness about water quality by discouraging practices such as washing clothes in irrigation systems and open defecation.

“This is crucial because many food products are consumed raw and unprocessed, making it essential to ensure the availability of quality water for agricultural purposes”.

The director further stated that the ministry would transfer the project to SON while maintaining a supervisory role.

Earlier, Mrs Elizabeth Ugoh, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation at the ministry, emphasised that validating irrigation standards would help tackle key development challenges in Nigeria.

She said the ministry was committed to validating irrigation standards to boost food security, nutrition, productivity, and socio-economic development.

“Since 2022, the committee has been critically reviewing the documents, aiming to develop irrigation water quality standards tailored to Nigeria’s needs for effective agricultural practices”.

Ugoh also stressed the need to address poor monitoring and evaluation and to conduct regular reviews for sustainable progress.

Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, SON Director General, announced the release of two key documents to enhance national standardisation.

He was represented by the Deputy Director, Food and Agriculture Group, Mrs Nene Obianwu.

“These are the Principles and Procedures for the Development of the Nigerian National Standards (PPDNNS) and the Nigerian National Standardisation Strategy (NNSS).

“These documents provide guidelines aligned with international best practices, with the NNSS outlining a four-year plan to address Nigeria’s environmental and socio-economic priorities,” Okeke said.

He stressed that forming a National Technical Committee was essential for implementing these standards and urged effective discussions to finalise the draft.

“Water is vital for agriculture, directly impacting crop yield, soil health, and food security.

“With challenges like climate change and population growth, improving water management, especially in irrigation, is essential,” he added.

He further emphasised that developing a Nigerian Standard for Irrigation Water Quality was key to protect crops from harmful contaminants, which threatened public health and economic growth.

Okeke noted that these efforts supported Nigeria’s commitment to the UN’s SDGs and encouraged participants to contribute their expertise in developing a framework for sustainable irrigation water safety.

He also acknowledged the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation’s support in advancing the project.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Standard for Irrigation Water Quality outlines the quality requirements, classification, and test methods for irrigation water in Nigeria.

The Standard applies to any water used for irrigation purposes, regardless of its source. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

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