Against the backdrop that the regulator of cement manufacturing in Nigeria, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), is not doing enough to regulate the sector, the Block Moulders Association of Nigeria (BMAN) has come out to exonerate Olusegun Aganga, minister of industry, trade and investment, and management of SON on the cement type and alleged poor regulation of the sector.
In a chat with the media weekend, the association said we, in the association are so much concerned about the development, and “we must state here that we are part and parcel of the construction sector and major-end users of the product. We are not comfortable with the faceless Civil Liberty Organisation’s claims about the development, especially allegations levelled against the honourable minister and the management of SON.
According to Rasheed Adebowale, national president, BMAN, we want to put it on record that we never had it so good until the emergence of Joseph Odumodu, at the helm-ship of SON, and the reasons being that current leadership of SON is working closely with us to ensure quality and standard of products.
SON is one key government agency that has brought to the grassroots the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan and it has continued to effectively deliver on the commitment, Adebowale said, recalling that the agency last year, August 2013, held a successful national stakeholders’ workshop for for all block makers and those in the allied products across the country. Over 2000 delegates attended the forum, as all branches of the BMAN sent their delegates, who were taught by experts on how to ensure quality blocks, he said, saying they were also educated on the type of cement, proper application and measurement through demonstrations and exhibitions.
Also, Abegunde Okunola, state president of the association, said “we resolved to intervene in this regard because the sector provides for our livelihood. The ban on importation of cement and stabilisation of the product’s price by the Federal Government has gone a long way in moving the sector forward. We need to restate that SON has been working with us harmoniously.
“We are delighted that this is the first time that a government agency is carrying us along. We commend Odumodu for demonstrating that as once a manufacturer, he knows where the shoe pinches.”
It could be recalled that cement manufacturers last week rejected claims from some quarters that poor cement quality was responsible for the increasing menace of building collapse in the country, while emphasising the need to improve construction practices.
A statement from the representatives of Ashaka Cement plc, Lafarge WAPCO plc, Northern Cement Company of Nigeria, Sokoto, and United Cement Company plc, Calabar, states, “the Nigerian cement industry is one of the most modern in Africa, with significant new technology and capacity recently installed. Cement quality conforms to the highest international standards and the industry is constantly working with the regulatory authorities – SON – to ensure up-to-date testing, certification of products and quality norms.”
