In a bid to reconcile perceived conflicts and blame games reported by various media outlets recently, Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have deepened their 11-year cooperation and further strategized to attain better service delivery for the nation.
The Director-General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, led his management team, to visit and engage the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) and members of Customs management during a recent visit to Customs headquarters, Abuja.
At the meeting, SON Director-General emphasized the strategic role played by the Nigeria Customs Service in the fight against the importation of substandard products.
Salim also acknowledged the historical support given to the standards organization while requesting for more strategic engagement in the light of their recent return to the ports.
In his response, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Ali greed that synergy between critical government agencies at the ports will greatly enhance efficiency and would do much good in protecting the nation as well as its citizens.
The Customs boss, however, stressed the need for SON to upgrade its IT infrastructure to enable a smooth interface with the NICIS II platform of the NCS and the SON Director-General promised to do all in his power to make this a reality while also requesting for Customs officers to be trained in ISO certifications.
The meeting corroborated the readiness and willingness of the Nigeria Customs Service to discharge its statutory responsibilities of protecting the national economy through trade facilitation, revenue generation and anti-smuggling activities while providing the needed support in safeguarding the nation from the importation of substandard goods through collaboration with SON as the designated authority.