Goods made in Nigeria carry one mark. Goods brought in from abroad carry another. MANCAP is the mark for local goods.
What MANCAP stands for and covers
MANCAP is SON's Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme for products made in Nigeria. It has covered Nigerian-made goods since 2006.
The scheme checks that a local product meets the right Nigerian standard. It checks this before the product reaches shelves, not after.
The logo on certified products
A certified product carries a MANCAP logo with its own number. That number links the product back to its own record with SON.
For a buyer, the logo is a fast way to check a product has passed the process. You do not have to take the maker's word for it.
Documents SON asks for
An application needs CAC certificate of incorporation, an on-the-spot or laboratory test report and proof of payment for the form and certification. You get the forms from your nearest SON state office. The online part of the process runs through the MANCAP site.
Get your CAC papers and test report ready before you apply. Most delays come from one missing item, not a hard step in the process itself.
How long certification takes
SON's own timeline is 60 days from receipt of a complete application. That covers a complete application, plus at least two factory checks along the way, one each quarter.
A faster route also exists, built for small and medium producers who want to start trading sooner. Under it, full MANCAP certification is expected within 6 months. It is a first step, not a stand-in for the certificate itself.
How long the certificate lasts
Once issued, a MANCAP certificate holds for 3 years. SON keeps checking the factory each quarter over that whole time, not just before the certificate is first granted.
At the end of the term, you go through the process again for a fresh certificate. Put that date in your diary well before it arrives, alongside your other renewal dates.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up MANCAP with SONCAP. One covers goods made in Nigeria. The other covers imports. See SONCAP certification cost if your goods come from abroad instead.
- Treating the certificate as a one-off. Factory checks carry on for as long as the certificate is valid.
- Missing one document from the list. A single gap is the most common reason an application waits.
- Letting the certificate lapse. A lapsed certificate means you can no longer use the mark legally.
SON publishes fees for this scheme only at its state offices, so confirm the current figure there before you budget. The rest of this series is on the SME regulators hub, alongside the government fees tool for other agency charges.