Except the appropriate authorities step in, the on-going federal government war against substandard products in the country may be jeopardised.
This is because the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the federal government agency prosecuting the war, is now embroiled in a contest over office space with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).
Ironically, the office space, located on Arobieke Street, in Lekki Phase 1, Victoria Island, houses some of the laboratories key to the SON’s standardisation programmes.
The current administration has been laying emphasis on job creation, agriculture development and strengthening of the Small And Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector, which are target beneficiaries of the SON standardisation programmes, but this may be scuttled, if the RMRDC succeeds in disposing the SON of the complex under dispute.
Our investigation shows that although the building was originally allocated to RMRDC, however the premises was later allocated to SON during the movement of former Federal Secretariat from Ikoyi, Lagos to Abuja.
The arrangement was that ‘The SON will take full responsibilities of the maintenance, running cost and upkeep of the entire complex (including the only one flour occupied by RMRDC). And that the office of the Head of Service of the Federation shall allocate 6 (six) units residential accommodation to RMRDC in Abuja as compensation for the one it was vacating for the SON.
The source added that the memo approving the allocation of office accommodation dated 30th May, 2000, signed by one W.M. Kurawa for and on behalf of the Head of Service of the Federation, was copied to the then Ministers of Industry, Science & Technology as well as the Directors General, RMRDC and SON respectively.
The source added that the memo approving the allocation of office accommodation dated 30th May, 2000, signed by one W.M. Kurawa for and on behalf of the Head of Service of the Federation, was copied to the then Ministers of Industry, Science & Technology as well as the Directors General, RMRDC and SON respectively.
Our checks show that the SON had since equipped the place with state of the art testing facilities, including its food technology laboratory for biological testing, which has international standardisation mark ISO/IEC 17025:2005.
It currently carries out over seven different tests food samples bothering on food safety etc, while another globally accredited laboratory for Chemical Testing carries out yet another seven types of tests viz: ash in foods, carbohydrate, crude fiber in Animal feed, fat content in flour and dried milk, moisture in foods, protein in milk and flour as well as heavy metals analysis in foods.
A scientist who spoke to our reporter on the condition of anonymity feared that the SON duty of sanitising the nation of sub-standard products would be defeated if the agency loses the battle to retain the Lekki accommodation.
Our reporter learnt the face-off was triggered by a letter purportedly written from the Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service federation which was never served to SON urging SON to exit the building. The memo dated July 9, 2015, signed by one Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, and which gave SON only 12 months to vacate the premises.
Since then, the mater had been dilly-dallying
if it is true that the RMRDC was given six units of accommodation in Abuja as compensation for the property, what could have warranted its renewed interest to take total ownership of the LEkki complex?
if it is true that the RMRDC was given six units of accommodation in Abuja as compensation for the property, what could have warranted its renewed interest to take total ownership of the LEkki complex?
A staff of the SON was particularly concerned about what she described as the Mycotoxin and Food fortificant facilities in their internationally accredited laboratories located there. She said the fact was that the office complex was more strategic to the nation’s standardisation campaigns, and that the machines and labs are not such that could easily be moved.
“As a person, I know that any attempt to move those facilities would amount to lose of huge resources, such that you cannot easily quantify. If the RMRDC has been given compensatory office allocations in Abuja, common sense shows it should not dislodge a sister agency using a whole five flats for a strategic campaign on behalf of the federal government”.
Another staffer who spoke on condition of anonymity said the costs, both financially and otherwise of an SON displacement or forceful relocation was difficult to imagine.
According to him, we should be reminded the situation in time past when Nigeria had to be shuttling to neigbouring countries for tests that are not easily done at the SON labs. And also, that Lagos was strategic to the standardisation campaign and required SON’s full presence.
“Imagine the costs, both financially and otherwise, of having to start rebuilding laboratories if for any reason, the ones already standing at Lekki should be dismantled. What about the six block of flats given to RMRDC in exchange for the office complex in Lagos? Would it be returned to the SON?
There seem to be many more questions than answers and Industry watchers therefore expect the two ministries or even the HOS of the Federation to urgently intervene in the interest of the nation’s economic and industrial growth”.