By Chibisi Ohakah, Abuja
The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) has said that it would be focusing on the Nigeria’s oil and gas sector with the aim of enhancing products and services quality attainment from 2022.
Established in 1971, and also a full member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), SON is the sole statutory body that is vested with the responsibility of standardizing and regulating the quality of all products in Nigeria.
Inaugurating a steering committee to coordinate modalities for implementing the provisions of SON Act No 14 of 2015, as it relates to the energy industry in the country. SON director general, Mr. Farouk Salim, said the agency under his leadership was determined to ensure that every area of operation in the oil and gas sector is standardized to guarantee quality, safety, and sustainable environment in line with international best practices.
He explained that SON’s foray into the oil and gas industry is phased into short, medium and long term due to the strategic importance of the sector to Nigeria’s economy and the attendant need to establish, maintain and improve standards, assure the accuracy of measurements as well as the safety and durability of products and services within the industry.
He said steps have been taken to develop greater human and material capability in the organization to provide necessary technical support to the oil and gas ecosystem in such areas as piping inspection certification, piping construction and storage tank inspection and certification.
Others area include asset management standards, quality management system requirements for the petrochemical, oil and natural gas industry as well as basic offshore safety induction and emergency training amongst others.
According to him, despite global trend, the industry will continue to be relevant for some time to come, stressing that effective regulation is therefore imperative for optimum value attainment.
Salim tasked the Committee with the responsibility to enhance SON’s activities and strategic repositioning in the oil and gas industry to effectively regulate quality and promote international best practices.
The SON chief executive posited that the organization is prepared to overcome challenges that may arise in the course of striving to improve standardization and quality assurance in the oil and gas sector.
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