By Franklin Alli

LAGOS— The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), weekend, called on manufacturers of low grade cement (32.5MPA) in the country to commence the production of the high grade 42.5MPA, if they must remain in business.

Speaking at the just concluded Public Hearing, Director General of SON, Dr. Joseph Ikem Odumodu, defended why the agency has restricted the use of 32.5 grade to plastering only, saying it is to mitigate the problem of collapse building in the country.

The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on the composition and pigmentation of cement in the country led by its Chairman, Hon Yakubu Dogara, conducted a public hearing last week aimed at addressing the phenomenon of collapse building in the country.

Odumodu said Nigeria cannot afford to be a pariah state on the issue of cement quality, adding that world’s progressive countries have since stopped using the low quality 32.5MPA.

He said his organisation had restricted the use of 32.5MPA low grade and will enforced compliance, adding that SON had issued a directive that 52.5R be used for bridges, 42.5R for casting of columns, beams, slabs and for moulding blocks, while the low grade 32.5MPA can only be used for plastering.