By Kingsley Adegboye

Worried by the incessant rising cost of cement and prevalence of sub-standard iron rods or steel bars across the country, leaders of three built environment professions have called on the Federal government to come up with a policy framework that will analyse issues and take rational decisions on the cement sub-sector especially as they affect importation of the product.

The professional bodies represented by their Lagos chapters are the Nigerian Institute of Architects, (NIA), Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) and Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIS StructE).

The National President of NIA, Arc. Olatunji Bolu has also condemned the rising cost of the product and called for the immediate intervention of the Federal government to stem further hike in the price of cement.

Addressing a joint press conference, the professionals said the scarcity of cement and influx of sub-standard iron rods reinforcement pose a threat to the aspirations of potential house owners in Nigeria. “We the key professionals in the building design and construction sector, will not escape blame in the resultant effects or consequences of future building collapse that might be attributed to the present situation,” they noted.

Speaking through NIS StructE President, Engr. Victor Oyenuga, the experts stated that samples of iron bars procured from major distributors around Lagos were subjected to structural tests without meeting the required standard. He said more astounding was the revelation that identical high tensile iron bars of the same size, produced by the same manufacturer recorded conflicting results.

According to him, the results of the tested identical bars varied significantly, stressing that while some met the required standard, others failed which is abnormal.

Engr. Oyenuga regretted that about two months ago, a bag of cement sold for between N1,450 and N1,600, but today, it is as high as N2,200. Lamenting further the implications of the rising cost, he said the required quantity of cement in the mix for block moulding, setting, plastering and for concrete will be compromised if clients could not go beyond budget or provide extra fund to catch up with the inflationary trend. He added that the prevalence of re-bagged cement and sharp practices may lead to defective buildings that might fail in future.

Noting that cement manufacturers blame poor power supply and logistics as the major bane in the production and distribution of the product, he enjoined government to address with urgency the privatization of power generation and distribution to enhance efficiency in the cement sector. Engr Oyenuga also wants the government to look into the hike in the cost of diesel, which has raised the cost haulage. Furthermore, he called for the rehabilitation of distressed roads as this will drastically reduce vehicle repair cost being incurred by haulage firms. Efforts, he said, should be intensified to revitalize the country’s railway system, especially to link steel rolling mills and cement factories.

“A policy framework based on analytical observations and rational decisions is required in the cement sector, especially as it relates to importation of the commodity. If Nigeria is a nation endowed with limestone and iron ore, if the drive for alternative source of revenue overcomes the oil syndrome, if there is commitment in the backward integration policy, that is, investment in local production, if the nation can resolve the mundane problems of power and transportation, cement would readily be available and come as low as the much orchestrated price of N800 per bag.

“Addressing the current cement scarcity and its concomitant rising price, we urge the government to facilitate emergency importation of quality cement labeled with expiry date to alleviate the hardship of users. Government should establish an Agency, specifically meant for the monitoring of quality of building materials. The assignment given to the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) is extensive, covers too wide an area and the organization needs help especially in the built environment”, Engr. Oyenuga stated.