ECOWAS adopts global certification benchmark for products – TheNigerialawyer

The European Union and the ECOWAS Commission have developed
standards for the certification of some major products to boost the
level of international trade. The five priority products selected
by the member states are water, cashew nuts, vegetable oil, cement
and fish.

The certification programme, funded by the EU, is being
implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development
Organisation under the West Africa Quality System Programme.

It is targeted at ensuring that the products brought into the
ECOWAS market by Nigeria and other African countries meet a level
of quality and safety in compliance with the technical standards
and regulations.

It would also help to ensure transparency between companies and
users of information on the characteristics and performance of the
products.

Speaking during a meeting in Abuja, the ECOWAS Representative
for Industry and Private Sector Promotion, Yaya Niato, said the
standards would assist buyers, sellers and other stakeholders to
agree on the procedures for conformity assessment.

This, according to him, would help to avoid delays and the
multiplication of inspection operations in terms of testing or
product certification.

He said the need to boost the level of intra-African trade which
according to him stood at about 12 per cent and product
competitiveness informed the move.

He said, “Under this policy, we are working to ensure that
companies respect quality, because this will be beneficial not only
to the companies by making them competitive in the market but also
to protect the consumers and the environment.

“Intra-regional trade is very low at about 12 per cent in
Africa. So, we are working hard to make it better.”

Also speaking, the National Programme Officer, UNIDO, Dr Osuji
Otu, stated that with the programme, the aim of sustainability for
the ECOWAS Quality Infrastructure Scheme would be achieved.

He said, “The success of a mark requires the existence of
expertise in several areas, including in the field of calibration,
standardisation, technical regulations, and testing, to name only
those.

“Therefore, the support of UNIDO covers inclusively all these
needs.”

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MNJTF Eliminates 47 Terrorists, Recovers Sophisticated
Weapons

In continuation of the on going Operation YANCIN TAFKI to rout
Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) from the Lake Chad Area,
the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in conjunction with
national forces yesterday, 21 June 2019, inflicted the heaviest
loss in 6 months on ISWAP.

At about 6am yesterday, 21 June 2019, troops embarked on
clearance operation to Doron Naira (an island in Lake Chad), in a
bid to disrupt ISWAP’s activities on the island and adjoining
localities. Troops effectively suppressed ISWAP and successfully
conducted the clearance operation. At the end of the engagement,
the following statistics were recorded;

– 42 terrorists neutralized, several others escaped with gunshot
wounds.

– 2 Gun trucks destroyed .

– 3 Motor cycles destroyed.

– 2 Light machine guns recovered

– 2 AK 47 Riffles recovered.

Unfortunately, the MNJTF lost a soldier while 10 others were
Wounded in Action. The affected soldiers have been evacuated
accordingly.

Earlier in the week, ISWAP also met a similar fate when they
attempted to attack MNJTF troops in Sector 1 Foward Operation Base
(FOB) in Ngouma in Cameroon. In that engagement, ISWAP lost 5
terrorists, while 1 was captured. They also lost 13 AK 47 Riffles
and 2 Hand Grenades.

Similarly, the MNJTF also conducted air interdictions in Arege
and Malkorony. Several terrorists are suspected to have been killed
as the Headquarters and logistics base of a top ISWAP commander,
Abu Talib was targeted in that operation.

Please, disseminate this information to the general public.

Colonel Timothy Antigha

Chief of Military Public Information

MNJTF

N’Djamena – Chad