The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Thursday issued a three -month ultimatum to steel manufacturers and distributors to clear out substandard steel bars out of the Nigerian markets.
Mallam Farouk Salim, Director-General, SON, made the disclosure during an emergency meeting at the SON complex, Ogba, Lagos.
According to Salim, the ultimatum and future enforcement is to ensure an improved quality of steel products.
He advised the steel manufacturers and marketers in the country to comply stressing that failure to do so would result in prosecutions and serious jail time for offenders.
He said upon the expiration of the three months ultimatum, the agency would commence full scale enforcement and mopping of substandard steel in factories and markets, in which culpable persons would face immediate prosecutions.
The director general who condemned the recent spate of building collapse across the country, said it was a big blow on the nation and especially the construction industry which the steel sector belonged to.
Salim said the consequences of these disasters were deeply troubling and the onus was on the Standards body to get to the root cause of the issue with the view to finding a lasting solution.
He said both manufacturers and distributors have been given two months to form associations for self regulation and organised way of articulating industry challenges to ensure strict compliance.
“The Association is also charged with rooting out their members especially those engaging in such inimical acts.
“The African Continental Free Trade Agreement which legally took effect from January, 2021 means that our borders are opened and any substandard products sold may be rejected thereby hindering economic growth.
“So, we have to do all we can to ensure that it does not play out that way and our products are trusted within and outside the shores of this country,” he said.
Salim reiterated that the Standards body’s mandate is to foster trade and economic growth and not to impede it.
