By Meletus EZE
The Standard Organisations of Nigeria (SON) has raided a site where substandard Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders are being fabricated and distributed in Onitsha, Anambra.
The Coordinator of SON in Anambra State, Mrs Nwaoma Olujie, told newsmen in Awka on Thursday that the syndicate was producing the cylinders without abiding by standard processes that guaranteed quality and safety.
The organisation raided the site located on Bida Road, Fegge, Ontitsha, and impounded cylinders at various stages of production as well as equipment loaded in three lorries, she said.
Olujie described the domestic gas cylinders as ‘time bombs’ and added that the fabricators went as far as printing SON quality sign on the finished products, thereby misleading the public.
The coordinator who led the enforcement said no arrests were made as the illegal producers all took to their heels on sighting the SON team.
“LPG cylinders are used in almost every home in Nigeria; these people are fabricating and distributing them without subjecting them to any form of quality control. What they are doing there is production of time bombs which can explode any day and anywhere.
“They fabricate cylinders of different sizes like 3kg, 6.25kg, 10kg, 12.5kg, 50kg and so on. We raided the place to guard against killing Nigerians through domestic gas accident.
“So we raided the place and impounded materials, including welding machines, which are very critical in their operations,’’ she said,
Olujie said the team also impounded spraying machines, compressors and LPG cylinders at different stages of production loaded in three lorries.
“There was no arrest because when we arrived the scene, they immediately fled upon sighting us, they locked their shops and evaporated into the thin air,” she said.
Olujie said those who wished to produce the items must seek approval from SON and subject their processes to the quality control standards of the organisation.
The coordinator said some of the equipment required for production of the product such as bust pressure test radiographic to test internal flaws, leak test and material strength test machines were not in place.
She promised that SON would continue to work towards protecting innocent Nigerians from the activities of producers of substandard items.
“There are basic facilities that must be in place to ensure that you produce not only quality cylinders but safe LPG cylinders.
“These are life endangering products and not an all comers affair, it is not something you go into because you are a welder, they are pressure vessels, people will put gases in them.
“If you must be in this business, you have to operate within acceptable standards; the equipment must be in place and certified by SON.
“Manufacturers and importers alike need approval and they get registration number for traceability and inventory but these people are branding their products with SON logo,” she lamented.
Olujie said SON would not relent in exposing manufacturers of unwholesome products and ensuring that markets were rid of such substandard items.
