House Orders Crackdown On Substandard Building Materials
The House of Representatives has instructed the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to crackdown on counterfeit and substandard products, including building materials, flooding Nigerian Markets.
Additionally, the House has mandated its Committees on Industry and Trade to investigate allegations that SON reversed its decision to shut down 18 companies found guilty of producing and distributing substandard building materials, particularly iron rods.
These resolutions followed a motion of urgent public importance raised at plenary by Billy Osawaru from Edo State.
Moving the motion, the Edo Lawmaker noted that the constant issue of substandard materials has sent numerous lives to early graves.
He regreted that, at least three buildings have collapsed in different states of the Federation within January 2025, leading to several deaths and casualties, a clear indication that the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) has not done enough to prevent further occurrences.
Osawaru further noted that study has revealed that poor quality of materials and cheap-labour contributed about 53% of building collapse in Nigeria with most of them being private residential buildings executed by indigenous companies and locals.
“Worried that Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) allegedly reversed its decision to shut down 18 companies implicated in the production and distribution of substandard building materials, particularly iron rod manufacturers.”
“The reversal, reportedly influenced by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has sparked criticism from different quarters, raising concern over government’s commitment to enforcing quality standards in the construction industry.”
Also worried that the alleged defaulted companies responsible for production of substandard building materials especially irons hides under the weak enforcement mechanisms in Nigeria to flood the Nigerian market with inferior products while exporting products of high quality to countries where substandard materials are not tolerated.”
The House Committee on Industry and Trade which was mandated to probe the allegations raised in the motion, was given a maximum of four Legislative weeks to submit it’s report.
