Just in: ASPMDA, SON form ASSRC to stamp out substandard Auto Spare Parts
Official arrangements are ongoing to set up a strategic taskforce code-named ASPMDA Spare Parts Standardization and Regulatory Committee (ASSRC) that will be charged with the responsibility to supervise and monitor compliance on issues of product standards and regulatory matters in the plaza.
This was announced by the visiting Director General of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mallam Farouk Salim during his opening address at the stakeholders’ sensitization forum with Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA) inside the Lagos International trade Fair complex, today, June 20, 2023.
Giving insights on the theme; ‘Expanding Frontiers Of Auto Spare Parts Sector Via Standardization’, Salim explained that time has come for auto parts stakeholders to think local manufacturing rather than importing everything from China and other Asian economies.
He said expanding frontiers means moving from the old ways of doing business that are not fully beneficial to modern ways that can benefit the entire economy by way of standard goods, local production and services so as to create jobs and help the country to gain from the ongoing Africa trade process.
Continuing, he noted that the essence of dealing on quality goods and standard auto spare parts is to protect the society from avoidable accidents, deaths and trade disputes plus sanctions from regulatory agencies like SON.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Senior Special Adviser to SON DG/CEO, Ichie Emeka Diru explained that the aim of SON in coming for the sensitization in ASPMDA is to deepen the existing partnership between the agency and the auto parts dealers.
According to him, ASPMDA remains the only market the DG has personally visited during the course of the onging sensitization programme of SON and it is a mark of respect for the largest auto trading complex in sub-Saharan Africa.
He revealed that there are several windows which SON has opened to drive product standardization including MANCAP, SONCAP and the latest one called Product Authentication mark (PAM).
Welcoming the SON DG/CEO and his entourage, ASPMDA President, Hon. Ngozi Emechebe made it clear that ASPMDA is known for quality and standard products and that has been the reason behind the growth and stability of ASPMDA over the years.
He noted that “It is in line with ASPMDA zero-tolerance to substandard product that it has over the years, given SON office complex in the plaza as partners in progress.
In his further submission, Hon. Emechebe made it clear that ASPMDA currently has a system of checks and compliance on standard products, pointing out that any member found wanting in terms of poor quality will be forced out of the market to avoid spoiling the established good reputation of ASPMDA.
Also speaking in an interview, leading stakeholder in the plaza, High Chief Nonso Okafor (Akusinachi Nnobi) revealed that ASPMDA has been known and would continue to be known for standard products.
While observing that the main problem in the sector has remained the service gap caused by policy inconsistency on the side of the government, he added that ASPMDA has no room for product compromise and will continue to raise the standard in quality products availability.
Delivering his lead presentation on the theme of the sensitization, Engr Felix Nyado explained that the new committee to be created by both the SON and ASPMDA would go a long way in monitoring standard compliance in importation, manufacturing and sales of auto spare parts in the plaza.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion included chairman of Trade Fair Stakeholders’Association (TFSA) and President of APT, Chief Eric Illechukwu, Chairman of ASPMDA BoT, Chief Dr, DC Offorkansi, many former presidents of ASPMDA, other stakeholders and ASPMDA members.
