SON, Nigeria Army synergize to make assembly of army vehicles viable
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has said it will collaborate with the Nigerian Army to ensure its assembly vehicle initiatives become more effective.
The Director-General, SON, Osita Aboloma, told journalists during an inspection tour at the Nigeria Army Vehicles Manufacturing Company (NAVMA), located at Rigachikun, Kaduna State.
Aboloma said that the move was part of the agency’s activities in ensuring Federal Government policy on ease of doing business is achieved, as it seeks to promote made in Nigeria products.
The SON boss, who was represented by a delegation led by Engr. Shehu Ibrahim Maik, an Assistant Director in the Mechanical Engineering Group and also the Coordinator, SON Benue State Office, said periodic checks and inspection at different manufacturing concerns was one of the surest ways the standards body would improve the quality of lives through quality assurance.
According to him, SON’s metrology and instrumentation directorate would work hand-in-hand with the army to ensure by way of calibration of measuring and testing instruments.
He noted that most of SON instrumental expertise was deployed during the inspection of the Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company’s Production line, which includes a NAC- V Production line, an Assembly Plant for Ballistic Vehicle, Engine Overhaul Shop, Engine Testing Bay, Fitter Machine Plant, Fabrication Painting and Spray Shop, Foundry and Metal Fabrication Shop.
Aboloma commended the Nigerian Army initiatives adding it would go a long way to save foreign exchange.
The delegation also inspected some refurbished combat Vehicles such as BTR APC and other equipment.
During a PowerPoint presentation, the Group Managing Director, Major General. Victor Ezugwu, who was represented by the Head of the NAVMC facility, Colonel A.A. Alabi, showed members of the Committee visual exercises of test carried out on “Mine Detonating Machines” and “Ballistics Plates”.
He explained that the Nigerian Army decided to establish the Vehicle Manufacturing Company to effectively do maintenance of its vehicle and de-assemble some to meet its needs.
He further explained that the establishment of the Nigerian Army Vehicles Manufacturing Company (NAVMC), which was inaugurated by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, is a milestone in the history of the Army’s march toward self – reliance on the production and maintenance of armored vehicles.
He assured the SON delegation that the company had assembled a team of formidable young Nigerian Professionals in automobile design and engineering to partner the NAVMC to achieve its mandate.
He said the vision of NAVMC was to promote Nigerian Army’s indigenisation policy through self – sustenance in armoured and soft skin vehicles.
He thanked the Director General of SON and delegation for the dedication and professionalism in their interactions so far.
He appealed to the Inspection Committee to provide them all the necessary support to ensure their products and services meet the required national and international standards requirements to enable them to compete favorably.
Brig. General S. Dahiru, Director, Products Monitoring and Evaluation, Army Headquarters Dept. of Army Standards and Evaluation, thanked the Director General/ Chief Executive Officer, SON for his commitment to seeing that the highest level of standardization and quality assurance is enshrined in the Nigerian Army’s processes and operations. He assured SON of the Army’s willingness to ensure that all its products meet the standard requirements.
Colonel T. Isa, Deputy Director, Military Exercise, AHQ DASE, announced that the Nigerian Army hopes to produce its own brand new vehicles by July 2019. He reiterated that the “vehicles will be produced by the Nigerian Army, for the Nigerian Army and for other members of the armed forces as well as the paramilitary agencies.
In response, each member of the Vehicle Inspection Committee provided feedback based on their area of specialization. They commended the efforts of the Nigerian Army so far and educated them on the relevance of quality and continual improvement in the current competitive market.
Engr. Shehu Maik assured them of SON’s commitment and guaranteed them that as long as the NAVMC complies with the standards of quality in its operations and their products conform with the required test and processes, SON will work hard to ensure that the NAVMC is certified.
The delegation comprised Engr. Cherry Alewu Achema (Assistant Director-EE / Head, Electrical Laboratory), Mr. Omotosho Ayodele Folayan (Assistant Director-CT / Coordinator, SON Lagos 3 Office) Head, Mr. Bitrus Dlagai Joshua (Assistant Director-TL / Technical Coordinator, Textile and Leather Laboratory) and Engr. Olumide Alade (Chief Standards Engineer -ME / Intelligence and Performance Monitoring, Operations.
