NCDMB, SON meet to set standard for locally manufactured oil, gas products
Solomon Ezeme
In an attempt to create a uniform standard for locally manufactured equipment, materials and products in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have agreed to work together to set industry regulation aimed at entrenching quality control.
Energy’s check revealed Nigeria is ranked among the world’s highest market for fake and substandard goods. However, it was gathered that challenges posed by sub-standard products, equipment and materials especially in the oil and gas sector have cost the country about N15 trillion annually.
This was the major highlight of the discussion between Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, and Mallam Farouk A. Salim, Managing Director/Chief Executive of the SON, when the two agencies met in Abuja on Tuesday.
The NCDMB boss during the meeting stated that both agencies will work together to address primarily four (4) critical areas relating to the standardisation of the oil sector, which include certification, set-up of uniform standards, improvement in measurement accuracies, and circulation of information about industry standards.
Mallam Salim,MD SON, on his part promised to train the NCDMB staff in order to acquaint the organisation with effective ways of ensuring quality control in the oil industry.
He further promised that SON will strengthen ties with the NCDMB to ensure uniformity and complete compliance with standards for products, materials and equipment in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
The significance of the meeting between the two agencies, it was gathered, seeks to end the unimaginable effect of substandard equipment, tools and other facilities used by players in the oil and gas sector, which often lead to loss of human lives and properties in the field.
