The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has announced its commitment to prosecute manufacturers and distributors of substandard steel products nationwide.
This was revealed by Mr Enebi Onuchenyo, Chairman of SON’s Special Task Force, during a recent stakeholder meeting with manufacturers and distributors of steel and iron rods held in Lagos.
At the meeting, Onuchenyo acknowledged that SON had been inundated with numerous complaints from distributors regarding the poor quality of steel and iron rods available in the market.
“There was a claim that there are substandard iron rods in the market, and this is why we called the manufacturers and distributors.
“They have both given us useful information that will help us track whoever is behind this unscrupulous act.
“We have also told them that anyone caught in the act would be prosecuted, and there is no going back on that,” Onuchenyo explained.
Onuchenyo issued a stern warning, emphasizing the importance of compliance from both manufacturers and distributors.
“My warning to everyone is that as a distributor, do not accept substandard iron rods from manufacturers, and as manufacturers, do not produce substandard iron rods. The next phase of this journey is prosecution,” he added.
The SON chairman further outlined the agency’s plan to bridge the gap between manufacturers and distributors to improve the nation’s steel sector.
He stressed the need for self-regulation among manufacturers, noting that global best practices in regulation often involve self-monitoring.
“We have asked the manufacturers to engage in self-regulation because all over the world, the best form of regulation is self-regulation.
“If they decide to check themselves to ensure that none of their members toe the wrong path, the sector will be robust and make a positive impact on the economy,” Onuchenyo stated.
Felix Oba-Okogie, Coordinator of the Steel Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Group, also spoke at the event. He expressed concern over what he called “wrong accusations” against local steel producers.
He urged SON to investigate any allegations made about the quality of steel products thoroughly.
“Until today’s meeting, we have regarded those allegations that we are producing substandard steel as basically baseless.
“This meeting has put to rest all these allegations. They are not only rubbishing manufacturers, but they also smear the reputation of SON. This is not healthy for the country,” Oba-Okogie said.
On his part, Mr. Chukwudi Umeh, a member of the Iron Dealers Association of Nigeria from Anambra State, commended SON’s efforts to regulate the steel and iron rod sector.
He pledged the association’s full support for the agency’s initiatives aimed at ensuring quality products.
Umeh advised manufacturers to maintain a close relationship with their customers, noting that this would help SON easily trace products that fail to meet the Nigerian Industrial Standard.
As SON moves to intensify its crackdown on substandard steel products, manufacturers and distributors are now on high alert, with the agency making it clear that non-compliance will not be tolerated.
