By Dipo Olowookere
Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr Osita Aboloma, has backed the formulation of a framework for the regulation of e-commerce operations in the country.
Mr Aboloma made this known recently at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos tagged, ‘The Role of Standards and Quality Regulation in Electronic Commerce.’
According to him, there was need for stakeholders in the e-commerce space to adhere strictly to standards to provide solutions that would ensure safe and secure transactions, assurance of quality, consumer protection and boost the sector.
He noted that the promotion of awareness on standards and quality regulation in the e-commerce sector has become necessary as the drive for digitalised market places increased and the pressure on the standards community mounts.
Mr Aboloma said the sector in Nigeria is estimated to worth about $13 billion with over 400,000 orders placed daily by consumers.
He said big time players like Jumia, Gloo.ng, Dealdey, Kaymu, Wakanow and Konga have contributed to the economy by employing many youths in the country.
As a result, the SON DG, who was represented at the event by the agency’s Director in charge of Corporate Affairs, Mr Paul Angya, emphasised that imbibing standards in e-commerce would go a long way to facilitate trade, promote global competitiveness, economic growth and development.
According to him, e-commerce, as the name implies, is a business that is on the rise hence it is apt and crucial for the standardisation and regulation of the quality of products and services being traded through the cyberspace.
He stressed further that there was need to promote awareness on standards and quality regulations in the e-commerce sector could not be overemphasised, maintaining that ensuring safe and secure online platforms for sales of goods and services to enhance trade within Nigeria and across borders would ultimately increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation.
Adedapo Adesanya