The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), in partnership with the Welding Federation and Specialised Fabrication Equipment, has called for the adoption of emerging innovations, such as orbital welding.
This is to ensure that Nigeria’s manufacturing industry, including the food and beverage sector, continues to meet industry standards.
The charge was given on Wednesday during a workshop on the awareness of contamination risks from deformed welded joints in processing equipment held at SON’s Lagos office in Ikeja.
The programme formed part of broader efforts to align Nigeria’s manufacturing processes with international standards, ensuring that engineers, fabricators, quality assurance professionals, and plant operators follow best practices.
Special Adviser on Strategy to Director-General of SON, Pius Manji Lawal, who spoke at the event, stressed the organisation’s role in setting standards and enforcement, particularly in response to emerging innovations like orbital welding.
He described orbital welding as a modern practice used in industries, such as food and beverages, noting that it offers significant advantages in ensuring hygienic production processes in the manufacturing sector.
Besides, he said that SON would be committed to ensuring that all products and services meet established safety and quality standards, emphasising that public health remains a top priority.
He said that to prevent Nigerian goods from being rejected in foreign markets due to quality issues, it must align its production processes with internationally accepted standards.
“The goal of the orbital welding is to ensure products are wholesome and safe for Nigerians,” he said.
Lawal further stated that SON is currently developing a specific code of practice for orbital welding that will outline procedures and guidelines for its application, with plans to eventually establish formal standards and certification processes for the technique.
Also, Executive Director of the Welding Federation, Ayo Adeniyi, said that the collaboration would help to improve safety standards and quality across the country’s manufacturing industries, particularly in oil and gas, food, and chemical sectors.
In the same vein, Food Safety Lead Auditor at SON, Somwine Emmanuella, who spoke on the need to prioritise safe welding practices, said that welding must meet FDA and FSMA guidelines, which require sealed, non-porous surfaces that are easy to clean.
In his remark, Chairman of African Local Content Organisation (ALCO), Wole Ogunsanya, lamented that welded joints are often overlooked as potential risk points across sectors, such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, and beverages.
He said: “In today’s global marketplace, where compliance with standards, such as FSSC 22000, is increasingly non-negotiable, attention to fabrication details like weld integrity is no longer optional; it is essential.”
