SON, NERC, IEC partner to improve standards of electrical appliances

In bid to improve the standardisation of electrical and electronic products in the country, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is collaborating with Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) to ensure the safety of electrical appliances in the market.

Speaking at a stakeholders forum on Thursday in Abuja, the Director-General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke said the Forum was organised as part of the 2025 African tour and official visit of the Secretary-General and Chief Executive of the IEC, Mr Philippe Metzger, to Nigeria.

According to him, “Today is a memorable day for us in the standardisation fraternity. We are honoured to host the IEC secretary-general, which signifies Nigeria’s growing influence and commitment to international standards”.

He explained that Nigeria became an affiliate member of the IEC in 2006 and attained full membership in 2017, adding that the country, through SON, now mirrored 23 IEC technical committees locally.

“One of our major achievements is the improvement in the quality of Nigerian electrical cables, which are now globally competitive,” the DG noted.

Okeke called on Nigerian manufacturers to leverage the IEC Conformity Assessment Schemes to gain international certification for their products, boost exports, and reduce rejections in global markets.

On his part, the Chairman of NERC, Mr Sanusi Garba said the visit of the IEC team was timely considering reforms in the power sector in Nigeria.

“Standards are essential for safety, efficiency, and reliability in the electricity market. We must ensure operators comply with them to avoid unnecessary accidents or system failures,” Garba stated.

In his address, the IEC secretary-general Mr Philippe Metzger tasked Nigeria to fully embrace international standards in the fields of clean energy, digital technologies, and smart grids.

He explained that embracing these standards would help to boost the country’s integration into global supply chains and accelerate industrial innovation.

Metzger reiterated the importance of standards in safeguarding quality and preventing unsafe products from entering the Nigerian market.