The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has stated that it will wield the big stick on erring manufacturers and distributors who indulge in the illicit trade of substandard steel in the country.

The Chairman, Special Task Force, SON, Engr. Enebi Onuchenyo, at a stakeholders meeting with manufacturers and distributors of steel and iron rods in Lagos, said the agency has been inundated with complaints from distributors expressing concerns over the quality of steel and iron rods in the country.

Onuchenyo said, “There was a claim that there are substandard iron rods in the market and this is why we called the manufacturers and distributors and they have both given us useful information that will help us track whoever is behind this unscrupulous act.

“We have also told them that anyone caught in the act would be prosecuted and there is no going back on that.

“My warning to everyone is that as a distributor, do not accept substandard iron rods from manufacturers and as manufacturers, do not produce substandard iron rods. The next phase of this journey is prosecution,” he warned.

Speaking on the meeting, he said it was to bridge the gap between the manufacturer and the distributors in its bid to chart a way forward to the nation’s steel sector.

“We have asked the manufacturers to engage in self-regulation because all over the world, the best form of regulation is self-regulation because it is more stringent. If they decide to check themselves to ensure that none of their members toll the wrong path, the sector will be robust and it will make a lot of positive impact on the economy.

“This is what we have been able to discuss today and all of them have agreed to do what we want them to do and we have also given them seven days to provide useful information on their suppliers and distributors to support our fight against substandard goods.

“SON as an organisation is saddled with the responsibility to check the quality of the material used and as per the building department, we have a body that takes care of the building construction.

“We will come in to ensure that whatever goes out from the manufacturer meets the requirements of the relevant standards. From our market surveillance if we see any substandard products we will arrest the distributor. We have told them today that they are as guilty as the manufacturers,” he said.

Also speaking, the Coordinator, Steel Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Group Felix Oba-Okogie, said there were wrong accusations over the quality of the steel produced locally, stating the urgent need to find out the details of whatever allegations that are against steel manufacturers and come strong on that allegation.

“Until today’s meeting, we regarded those people alleging that we are producing substandard steel other than SON that is by law empowered to say such a thing is basically baseless.

“This meeting that we are having today has put to rest all the allegations. They are not only rubbishing manufacturers, they also smear the reputation of SON. This is not healthy for the country.

“From what we have seen, these “ghost petitions” are coming from a divided unit. These groups are not even manufacturers, but buyers. They have the right to buy elsewhere, but they should not smear the name of SON in the allegation,” he said.

According to him, apart from the government who is the highest employer of labour, steel comes third or fourth, urging local manufacturers to sustain the position in all aspects.

He, however, urged SON to go heavy on illicit dealers of fake and substandard products in its bid to protect the unsuspecting consumers in the country.

“Apart from what SON has been doing, they should go all out beyond their schedule to find out who these distributors are that are trying to tear SON and manufacturers apart. We are also going to play our own part on that. We will do our own part to support this fight.

“For over 60 years, we have been doing the right thing and we were impressed with their regulation. We have been partners in progress and we want it to remain so,” he stressed.

On his part, a member of the Iron Dealers Association of Nigeria, Anambra State chapter, Chukwudi Umeh, commended SON for regulating the steel and iron rod sector, while pledging the association’s support to SON.

He advised that every manufacturer must identify their customers to make it easy for SON to trace products that fail to meet the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS).

“So anytime there is an issue, they must trace who they sold the products to. It will also help SON to trace the product.

“In other climes, they monitor companies and they also make sure that you cannot produce without the government’s approval,” he advised.

He also stated the need for raids to be carried out from factory to markets, adding that SON must also conduct market research on manufacturers and suppliers to check against substandard products.

“SON must intensify their efforts in their enforcement by paying courtesy visits or enforcement exercises to sites where the iron and steel are being sold to interrogate the dealers. Some people might be supplying from dumpsites,” he urged.