SON targets seamless import-export business with e-integration into NICIS
Following the integration of all the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON’s) services and certificates into the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS), the nation’s trade portal, the regulatory body, is optimistic that there would be ease of doing business at port for Nigerian importers and exporters.
Nigerian businessmen, who formerly travel from all parts of the country to the Lekki, Lagos of office of SON to obtain the required certifications issued by the organisation before carrying out their businesses, now can stay at the comfort of their offices, apply and receive all the certifications issued by SON. To enable all importers’ of SON regulated products to key into the process, the agency has given three months grace period to all, which started in September to end in November 31, 2015.
Speaking over the weekend at an interactive session with newsmen on SON’s e-certifications, Bede Obayi, head, Inspectorate and Compliance Directorate of SON, said that SON, has as one of the agencies affected by the federal government’s directive to leave the port in 2011, re-strategised its approach in ensuring that only safe and standard products are allowed into the country.
To achieve this, he disclosed that SON partnered four foreign companies including Cotecna, Inter-tech, SGS and CIC of China to issue genuine SONCAP product certificates to importers at different port of loading.
“Integrating SON certification into NICIS online platform, provide easy access to information on products regulated by SON, enables the agency to implement strong document authentication system using different methods and electronic signature for all sensitive documents like e-Product Certificate & e-SONCAP Certificate,” The SON boss added.
The platform, he stated gives instant notification of regulatory status of any product during Form ‘M’ and PAAR consignment processing; eliminate the need to apply for paper SON product certificate/import permits, which is uploaded during Form ‘M’ application; and ensures that the consignee sources product from reputable manufacturer prior to approval of Form ‘M’.
The SON boss, who stated that the agency is determined to reduce the level fake imported products by 10 percent, also said that the platform assures that all documents submitted into NICIS are reviewed and verified by SON, thus eliminating documentary fraud including the need for double-checking. “This will protect Nigerian consumers from substandard products by ensuring that only consignment that has passed through the ‘Mandatory SON Conformity Assessment Programme –SONCAP’ is allowed into the country.”
“E-integration provides collaborative environment to partner government agencies like CBN, Customs, FIRS, NAFDAC to share real-time information for national security, planning, compilation of national statistics and facilitate integrated release order as partner agencies key into the releasing of consignments.”
Continuing, he said: “To facilitate trade, SON does not detain suspected containers in the port rather it is the importers usually abandon the containers in order not to take responsibility. We move the container to the warehouse if there is any infraction but in many cases, the problem is usually false declaration.”
On the enforcement powers of the agency, Obayi noted that the review of SON Act by the seventh National Assembly has empowered the agency to prosecute offenders in partnership with the Nigerian Police Force. He reemphasised that the automated platform is going to yield good result for the economy as regards to the quality of products imported into the country.
Also speaking, Isa Suleiman, head, Port Operations, who confirmed that the platform will help in facilitating trade by reducing the time spent in documentation at port, stated that SON is the first government agency to fully integrate into NICIS, therefore, any suspected fake product would be traced to the partner that issued the certificate to importer abroad.
Suleiman, who disclosed that the compliance level of importers to trade rules were low before the launch of the online solution, hinted that the online solution has started yielding fruit as the level of compliance is now going up. “As long as the importer must clear his or her cargo using PAAR, the person must have genuine SONCAP certificate, and we have not recorded any incident of hacking”.
UZOAMAKA ANAGOR-Ewuzie