Photo caption: SON logo
By Charles Okonji
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has vowed to intensify enforcement on standards in the roofing sheets industry, as quality and safety and are essentials of sustainable industrial growth.
This was disclosed at a stakeholders’ forum on Friday in Lagos with the theme: “Boosting the building industry value chain with standard roofing sheets.”
In a welcome address by the Director General of SON, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, who noted that the theme of the event captures a central concern in the construction industry, said there was an urgent need to enhance the value chain in order to ensure consumer protection and eliminate persistent threat of substandard roofing sheets in Nigeria.
Okeke stated that roofing sheets are not just construction materials, but the final protective barrier that determine the durability, efficiency, and the beauty of any building.
According to him, “Whether in urban center or rural community, the roofing remains a defining investment that one should never play with and should be delivered with peace of mind to all owners, developers, and infrastructure investors. Unfortunately, the proliferation of low-quality and counterfeit roofing sheets in the Nigerian market has caused widespread concerns ranging from premature roofing failure to safety hazard, financial loss, and reputational damage to credible manufacturers in Nigeria.” He averred.
The SON Boss, who was represented by the Director, Cooporate Affairs, SON, Talatu Ethan said the forum was designed to create the necessary awareness for all stakeholders, both producers and users, to know that in SON they have zero tolerance for susbstandard products.
Ethan emphasised that SON mandate is to develop, promote, and enforce standards that improve the quality of products and services, which also enhance consumer confidence and competitiveness of Nigerian products and services through the instrument of standardisation and quality assurance.
She pointed out that the Agency enhances consumer confidence and support Nigerian industrial competitiveness in the roofing sheets and aluminum sector, in order to guide the production, importation, and market distribution of roofing material in the country.
On his part, Director General (DG) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, represented by Joseph Imoleke noted that members of MAN are hardly found producing substandard goods.
He said that Nigerian borders are very porous, making it easy for substandard goods to come in.
Emoleke noted that the Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment has also agreed that there will be a whistle-blower within the division of customs.
He advised manufacturers of roofing sheets to employ intelligence network that will link up some information right from where they are bringing substandard goods and share to customs, SON.
“If you don’t report substandard goods, it will kill your business.” Emoleke sounded.
He affirmed that MAN is in support of SON to improve the standards of manufactured products in Nigeria.
Technical papers around the theme: “Boosting the building Industry value chain with standard roofing sheets,” were delivered by experts, including Engr Idachi Ega, Head, Mechanical Group at SON, Mr Ushaheba Sambe of Chemical Technology Standard department at SON, Samuel Ayuba, a director who was represented by Akinbade Abiola and Theresa Ojomo, head of Lagos region.
