The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has sealed 13 steel factories across the nation for standards infractions.
The agency’s chairman, task force on steel, Mr. Enebi Onucheyo, who disclosed this to journalists in Lagos on Monday said the factories which are located in Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Abia and Edo states will remain shut till further notice.
According to NAN, Onucheyo, said the companies were shut following a nationwide market surveillance carried out by the organisation’s task force between November 2019 and January 2020.
He said samples of various steel products were obtained from the open market and the companies’ facilities during the surveillance.
“Because of SON’s classification of steel bars as life-endangering products, the Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS) provides unique identification marks for every locally manufactured or imported steel bars for easy traceability.
“Laboratory tests and analysis done on the samples reveal that most companies fail to meet the minimum requirements for diameter and mass per meter as provided in NIS 117:2004. “These are critical parameters in the standard for reinforcement bars for concrete,” he said.
Onucheyo said the companies were shut after an earlier warning to all steel manufacturing companies to ensure strict compliance with best standards.
He said some of the companies were found to have tampered with products earlier placed on hold by SON in their facilities.
He added that an unregistered identification mark “GE” was discovered in one of the products sampled.
Onucheyo stressed that it would be a continuous exercise to further the organisations’ commitment to protect consumers from the dangers associated with substandard and life-endangering products.
“This is in view of incessant collapse of buildings and structures across the country.
“The exercise is also aimed at ensuring that consumers get optimum value for their hard earned money,” he said.
NAN
