SON raids building materials market, seizes N50m iron rods

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria on Thursday raided Dei-Dei Building Materials Market, Abuja and seized iron rods worth N50 million.
During the enforcement, led by Nelson Adebiyi, the Regional Coordinator, North Central, SON alleged that the iron rods that failed laboratory test were seized.
The organisation also carted away 90 pieces of rods for further investigation, while the remaining were put on hold.
Adebiyi told newsmen that the exercise was to achieve the organisation’s target of ridding Nigerian markets of fake and substandard products.
He said that the agency had conducted its surveillance on Kendo Builders Limited, sellers of the substandard 12 mm and 8 mm rods, before the raid.
He added: “This raid is based on a market survey carried out earlier by SON, which revealed that there are some substandard iron rods being sold by traders, which we need to evacuate from the market.
“We have noted the traders’ complaints and it will help us in addressing some of the issues raised, with a view to ridding the market of substandard goods.”
According to Adebiyi, SON has achieved 40 per cent reduction in substandard products in the country, even though its target was to record 80 per cent reduction.
The SON officials went through a rough time as the traders resisted the exercise, claiming that they were unduly being used as guinea pigs while the manufacturing companies were left untouched.
A trader, who preferred anonymity, challenged the agency to go after a Lagos-based steel manufacturing company, the maker of the Y-mm iron rods, instead of “disturbing traders who are merely doing their businesses.”
He said: “The kind of harassment traders in this market suffer in the hands of SON officials is uncalled for.
“We are only traders trying to make ends meet.
“If any of our items is said to be substandard, why not go after the manufacturers who are duly registered with the agency?
“In the case of Y-mm, the product is manufactured by a Lagos-based steel company.
“Let SON begin its enforcement exercise from the company instead of disturbing us at every slightest opportunity.”
Anthony Chukwuneke, the Chairman, Building Materials Dealers Association, Dei-Dei Market, Abuja, also challenged SON to go beyond the market if it was serious about ridding the country of substandard goods.
Chukwuneke said: “If there is prevalence of substandard products in the markets as the officials had alleged, then SON should be an accomplice because it is expected to have representatives in each of the factories to enforce standards.”