By YINKA KOLAWOLE

Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) has warned block makers to desist from producing substandard products. Director General, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, who gave this warning at a one day sensitisation workshop on Sandcrete blocks manufacturing organised by the agency, said it would soon begin to prosecute offenders.

Odumodu said the move was part of the Federal Government’s zero tolerance campaign which is targeted at curbing the scourge of collapse building. According to him, SON had concluded plans to begin onsite factory inspection of Sandcrete producers with testing machines, which would determine the strength and composition of the blocks.

He added that local manufacturers of Sandcrete blocks would have to emboss their names on their products so that they can be easily identified in case of collapse, adding that failure to comply with the directive will lead to closure of their factories.

The SON boss noted that Sandcrete blocks constitute about 80 to 90 per cent of the superstructure of any building and as such serious attention needs be paid to the production process to meet specified standards and quality to minimise the incessant cases of building collapse.

“We have agreed that all block molders and mixers will have to be part of an association which we can hold responsible as well organise capacity building seminars for.

Each group will liaise with SON for training whereby we will offer 20 members of the block moulders’ association free 90001 certification,” he stated.

Also speaking, Minister of State, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom, advised builders in the construction industry on the need to begin certification of block makers with Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP).

According to him, most of the collapsed buildings were either recently built or still under construction, adding that the use of substandard materials particularly Sandcrete blocks were the major causes of building collapse in the country.

He urged the Sandcrete block makers to ensure that their products are of right quality as stipulated by SON. “The right application of specifications will ensure optimal use of resources, right quality and durability of Sandcrete blocks thus aligning with the government’s aspiration for affordable housing,” he said.