The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), said it is set to enhance products and services quality in the nation’s oil and gas sector beginning from 2022.
The Director-General, SON, Farouk Salim, said this in Abuja, while inaugurating a Steering Committee to coordinate modalities for implementing the provisions of SON Act No 14 of 2015, as it relates to the petroleum sector.
The 12-man Committee is headed by Prof. Olobayo Kunle, Chief of Staff to the Director-General and Chief Executive.
Salim tasked the Committee with the responsibility to enhance SON’s activities and strategic repositioning of the oil and gas industry to effectively regulate quality and promote international best practices.
He assured that the Organisation is prepared to overcome challenges that may arise in the course of striving to improve standardisation and quality assurance in the Sector.
He also expressed confidence in the competence of the Committee members to deliver on the assignment given their wealth of knowledge and experience.
SON’s quality 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 accuracy of measurements as well as the safety and durability of products and services within the industry.
Salim said SON under his leadership is determined to ensure that every area of operation in the sector is standardized to guarantee quality, safety and a sustainable environment in line with international best practices.
He disclosed that steps have been taken to develop greater human and material capability in SON to provide necessary technical support to the oil and sector in a number of areas.
These include: piping inspection certification; piping construction; storage tank inspection and certification; 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 and a host of others.
While acknowledging global trend in reducing dependence on oil and gas, Salim posited that the industry will continue to be relevant for some time to come, adding that effective regulation is therefore imperative for optimum value attainment.
He explained that “SON’s quality 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 accuracy of measurements as well as the safety and durability of products and services within the industry.”
